hope for the lonely...the.sad this Christmas.......

We need something to listen to ....to pray with....to meditate on... when late night Christmas Eve comes...we feel the loneliness....loss....pain....fear....sorrow...and everyone else is sleeping...or we are alone....listen to these songs....worship God...He is Real...He loves you like no one ever will....and He came so we could be free.....you are not alone...neither am i....til next time...hugs and prayers, ang

Adore by Chris Tomlin...

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=br-Ql1zVcUc


A Christmas Alleluia by Chris Tomlin

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XG347euXoTM


When Love is born...Marc Schultz

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aKSU9Dbxvrw

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And my 29 yr old son recommends this one for younger souls...and older ones who remember...

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=i-kHleNYIDc

CHRISTMAS PRAYERS....BE BLESSED

A BLESSED CHRISTMAS TO ALL.....HERE ARE SOME BEAUTIFUL PRAYERS....REJOICE EVERYONE...FOR JESUS CAME TO EARTH TO SAVE US ALL!!!!  GOD BLESS AND BE ASSURED OF MY CONTINUED PRAYERS FOR ALL OF YOU....

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Beginning on St. Andrew the Apostle's feast day, November 30, the following beautiful prayer is traditionally recited fifteen times a day until Christmas. This is a very meditative prayer that helps us increase our awareness of the real focus of Christmas and helps us prepare ourselves spiritually for His coming.

Hail and blessed be the hour and moment In which the Son of God was born Of the most pure Virgin Mary, at midnight, in Bethlehem, in the piercing cold. In that hour vouchsafe, I beseech Thee, O my God, to hear my prayer and grant my desires, 
[here mention your request]
through the merits of Our Saviour Jesus Christ, and of His blessed Mother. Amen.

Prayer for Christmas

(Attributed to St. Bernard of Clairvaux)

Let your goodness, Lord, appear to us, that we, made in your image, may conform ourselves to it. In our own strength we cannot image your majesty, power and wonder; nor is it fitting for us to try. But your mercy reaches from the heavens, through the clouds, to the earth below. You have come to us as a small child, but you have brought us the greatest of all gifts, the gift of your eternal love. Caress us with your tiny hands, embrace us with your tiny arms, and pierce our hearts with your soft, sweet cries.

The Pope's Christmas message:

http://www.ewtnnews.com/catholic-news/Vatican.php?id=11384

Christmas Prayers:

http://www.acatholic.org/advent-christmas/christmas-prayers/

"face to the floor!"

i am extremely sorry i have not written consistently over the past 2 months.  i have been caring for my 94 yr old Mother who has been in and out of hospitals and rehab.  i just want to extend a simple line that was given back to me this weekend by a dear friend who i have supported thru colon cancer.  We only have seen each other 2-3 times but have remained in touch by phone and text and the bond we have is deep and God based.  i gave him this line 5 yrs ago and on Sat. when i called out in need for prayer for myself during this time of serving Mom in this crisis time, he sent it back to me...

"The prayer of a  believer on his/her knees is invincible!"

i went further than that.....face to the ground.....when we prostrate before the Living God...His Majesty, miracles happen!

Whatever you are confronted with....return to your knees....lie face to the floor and beg God for help....and remember, more important than your physical body being on the floor is the posture of your heart!...and watch the Christmas Miracles come!  Maybe we can add some fasting and alms giving too!

God bless....be assured of my continued prayers and plz continue to pray for me and Mom and my family.  Thank you..

till next time....let's spend some silent time "face to the floor"!  ang

Quotes from Justice League that are powerful...

i really like when things that are in the world can have a deeper meaning in God if we apply it.  i went to see Justice League...and here are some quotes that have the potential to help us grow...

1.  Lois Lane said, “The truest darkness is not absence of light but that light will never return… But the light always returns…  Hope is real.  You can see it.  All you have to do is look up into the sky.”

i would have capitalized Light....

2.  This was said to Wonder Woman," you don’t just save people, you make them see the best parts of themselves.”

God willing this is what we do...

3.   Superman said, “Hope is like car keys.  Easy to lose but if you dig around they’re easy to find.”

all three are worthy of meditating on.....today we start the second week of Advent....PREPARE YE THE WAY OF THE LORD.....

til next time....let's take 5 minutes of silence with God before we go to sleep.

God bless!

angie

ps:  asking continued prayers for my Mom's health.  ty

the links from previous blog...

the links from last blog....

www.dynamiccatholic.com/best-advent-ever

emarketing.litpress.org/public/vwS0/wL2/subscribe

www.catholicity.com/cds/

www.presentationministries.com/obob/obobSubscribe.asp

Special thanks to St. Joseph's Palisades Advent Retreat, "What are you looking for?"

i want to thank you for coming to this evening's event.  It really was a beautiful night of healing and deep intimacy with God.  Special thanks to Fr. Nelson who orchestrated everything and Millie for her great artistic talents in creating the posters and pamphlets.   i hope all of us leave more assured of "What we are looking for?" and deeply healed to make this Advent, Christmas and entire year an adventure chasing God in a new way.   i pray everyone of us in attendance will find Jesus for ourselves so that this Advent and Christmas will be different as we pursue Jesus Our Savior....and not get lost in the hustle and bustle of Dec. 25th.  We Love God 365 days of the year not just in Dec.  To God Alone be all the Glory and Power and Honor and Praise.  You can contact me at this site by leaving personal comments that will not be posted public unless i approve and post it myself.  i serve as Music Minister at Holy Redeemer Parish in town. i also am available for individual spiritual direction. If i can help you or your parish in any way, please feel free to contact me.  There are many resources available to help in our journey with God. Take time to visit these sites below for materials to support your daily prayer life now during Advent/Christmas and every day of the year. Remember the more we chase God, the more we catch Him! Be assured of my continued prayers for you and please do keep me in yours. Zephaniah 3:17-18 Thanks,

Because He lives!
angie

Below is info that was given to all in attendance....

www.dynamiccatholic.com/best-advent-ever
emarketing.litpress.org/public/vwS0/wL2/subscribe
www.catholicity.com/cds/
www.presentationministries.com/obob/obobSubscribe.asp


Read John 1:38, the title of tonight's event.....lets read the entire chapter....

“What are you looking for?"

Mary's Dream

I had a dream, Joseph, I don't understand it, not really, but I think it was about a birthday celebration for our Son. I think that was what it was all about. The people had been preparing for it for about six weeks. They had decorated the house and bought new clothes. They'd gone shopping many times and bought elaborate gifts. It was peculiar, though, because the presents weren't for our Son.They wrapped them in beautiful paper and tied them with lovely bows and stacked them under a tree. Yes, a tree, Joseph, right in their house. They'd decorated the tree also. The branches were full of glowing balls and sparkling ornaments. There was a figure on the top of the tree. It looked like an angel might look. Oh, it was beautiful.
Everyone was laughing and happy. They were all excited about the gifts. They gave the gifts to each other, Joseph, not to our Son. I don't think they even knew Him. They never mentioned His name. Doesn't it seem odd for people to go to all that trouble to celebrate someone's birthday if they don't know Him?
I had the strangest feeling that if our Son had gone to this celebration He would have been intruding. Everything was so beautiful, Joseph, and everyone so full of cheer, but it made me want to cry. How sad for Jesus -not to be wanted at His own birthday celebration.
I'm glad it was only a dream. How terrible, Joseph, if it had been real.
~ Another special Christmas Message from your friends at Bethany Farms Box 311, Carrllton, IL 62016 Copyright © 1986 Bethany Farms.

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          Putting God First is the thing we need to do...listen to this song.....
          www.youtube.com/watch?v=RbWQV3OiRqA
          ----------------------------------------------------------------------------

Give thanks for every moment!

i texted a note like this today to a friend diagnosed with a serious illness who was leaving Sloane Kettering after a week of treatments.  He will have to continue outpatient ....i wanted to post this hoping it might help some suffering the same things at this time...

EACH MOMENT WE HAVE EACH DAY IS A GIFT....A PRIVILEGE.  AN ILLNESS....SUFFERINGS...ACCIDENTS..... HAVE A WAY OF REMINDING US OF THIS.  SADLY, WE USUALLY NEVER REACH THE DEPTH WE HAVE THE POTENTIAL TO REACH OUTSIDE OF TOUGH CIRCUMSTANCES LIKE THESE IN OUR LIVES.  WE ARE GIVEN A SPECIAL GRACE WHEN FACING OUR OWN MORTALITY THAT OTHER PEOPLE CANNOT EXPERIENCE TO THE DEGREE ONE CAN WHEN IN THE HEAT OF SUFFERING.  LOTS TO BE THANKFUL FOR THIS HOLIDAY...AN THIS YRS LIST, I AM SURE FOR MY FRIEND, WILL BE ON A MUCH DIFFERENT LEVEL THAN A HALLMARK CARD CAN EXPRESS.  GOD BLESS ALL OF US...AND FOR MY FRIEND WHO IS OUR NEW MIRACLE,  THANK YOU GOD FOR HEALING AND ANSWERING ALL OUR PRAYERS!!  CELEBRATE MY DEAR FRIENDS...LET'S CELEBRATE OUR NEW LIFE THIS DAY AND THE MIRACLES YET TO COME.  LOTS OF LOVE AND CONTINUED PRAYERS TO YOU, YOUR FAMILIES AND ALL THOSE YOU LOVE.    GOD BLESS!

REMINDER :  Thanksgiving is every day....celebrate a little differently this year.....make your own traditions....be with people who love you and accept you just the way you are....put God first and the turkey later....be brave enough to follow your heart in where you go, who you are with and what you will do this Thanksgiving....who knows?:...it might end up being the best Thanksgiving ever....and it just might be the last one we get to celebrate!

til next time....find all the verses in Scriptures that talk about giving thanks....

Welcome US Virgin Islands

Thanks for joining us.  Please invite your family and friends to stop by our blog.  Know i am praying for you.  i do hope you will visit us again.  God bless!  angie

Welcome Qatar...أهلا وسهلا بكم 'ahlaan wasahlaan bikum

سعيدة جدا لرؤية الناس من قطر الانضمام إلينا. يرجى دعوة عائلتك وأصدقائك للقدوم لزيارة. يرجى معرفة أنا أصلي بالنسبة لك. آمل أن زيارة مرة أخرى. ربنا يحميك! انجي

saeidat jiddaan liruyat alnaas min qatar alaindimam 'iilyna. yrja daewat eayilatik wa'asdiqayik lilqudum liziara. yrja maerifatan 'ana 'asli balnsbt lik. amul 'ana ziaratan maratan akhraa. rabana yhmyk! anjy

So happy to see people from Qatar joining us.  Please invite your family and friends to come to visit.  Please know i am praying for you.  i hope you visit again.  God bless you!  angie

Invitation to my Advent Retreat

FYI....DEC. 1ST.....7-9 PM...ST JOSEPH'S OF THE PALISADES 66TH ST. AND PALISADE AVE,  WEST NEW YORK, NJ...i WILL BE GIVING AN ADVENT RETREAT TITLED,

"WHAT ARE YOU LOOKING FOR?" JOHN 1:38

MARK YOUR CALENDARS AND INVITE ALL YOUR FAMILY AND FRIENDS....AND CHURCH MINISTRIES

GOD'S PROMISES SAY....IT WILL BE AN EVENING WE ALL WILL NEVER FORGET!

GOD BLESS! angie

ps:  plz keep all those ministering and all those who are called to attend deep in your prayers.  TY

continued prayer request for my Mom...

Plz keep my Mom deep in your prayers ...she is having some difficulties....ty...

til next time....let's read Is 53 for her healing....ang

Prayer request for my Mom!

My Mom has done very well in rehab.  By the grace of God, this 94 yr old woman got out of the hospital in 6 days from serious issues and has been in rehab since and has gone from not being strong enough to stand to walking 70 feet with her walker and doing stairs.  Tomorrow i take her back to the hospital for a procedure that might require 1 overnight stay or two.  i ask for your continued prayers for her.  

Every time i think she might be close to going Home to Heaven, God has shown up in a very big way over the years to show His Might and Strength again and again.  i remind all of us to never give up on our loved ones nomatter how severe a case looks, nomatter how old or young one is....nomatter what people think and say including medical professionals....never give up....it is never over until it is over....and we all know we are journeying Somewhere, but in the meantime...Our God is full of Love and Miracles and Surprises each and every day!  Plz keep Mom deep in your prayers during this last hurdle in her recovery and say one for me as her caregiver and my entire family.  Praised be God's Holy Name!!!  

til next time....let's read Lamentations 3 in Its entirety....

Lam 3

22The LORD’s Acts of Mercy are not exhausted,

His Compassion is not spent;

23They are renewed each morning—

Great is Your Faithfulness!

My request for prayers today!

November 4th is a very special day for me in my relationship with God.  i now ask for prayers, fasting and almsgiving today from all who can and be assured i carry all of you this special day with me in all my prayers and all i do this day.  May God be praised now and forever!

til next time.....let's read 1 Cor 13.....LOVE!

Welcome Kyrgyzstan people...Кыргызстан элин тосуп Kırgızstan elin tosup

Кыргызстан элин тосуп! бизге кошулуу үчүн рахмат .... Plz сиздин үй-бүлөсү жана досторун айтып, алар бул блог күндөрү иш сапары менен тосуп алышат. Кудай сага батасын берсин! Энджи

Kırgızstan elin tosup! bizge koşuluu üçün rahmat .... Plz sizdin üy-bülösü jana dostorun aytıp, alar bul blog kündörü iş saparı menen tosup alışat. Kuday saga batasın bersin! Endji

welcome Kyrgyzstan people!  Thank you for joining us....plz tell your family and friends they are welcomed to visit this blog anytime.  May God bless you!  angie

Let's tame our tongues!!!!

James 3:17  But the wisdom from above is first of all pure, then peaceable, gentle, compliant, full of mercy and good fruits, without inconstancy or insincerity!"

i was at Trader Joe's shopping and saw a situation that made me cry.  A beautiful mid aged woman was trying to back out of a parking spot and a mid aged man came quickly around the corner and they almost hit....almost...She started to curse and yell and i encouraged her to stay calm and go on her day and thank God nothing serious happened.  Then the man came out of his car arrogant and nasty and accused her of a thousand mistakes....she was waiting for him..wanted a fight....opened her window and then it began...i tried to reason with them with few words....plz be civil with each other....plz....they were so cruel....ugly....abusive...nasty...sarcastic...angry.....hateful...and they subjected everyone around them with their hate and foul language......i hung my head in sorrow....wept for the hate that two people showed each other...how can we treat another living being like this?...how can we be so out of control that Love cannot be the way we express ourselves....how can we not be respectful of  this person who carries the Breath of God in them?....oh my sorrow....i ached and everyone around me went about their business untouched by it....indifferent to this horrible experience.

The condition of this world starts with me....and you....one person at a time....This is how wars start....one person so self righteous they feel they have a right to scream at someone else as if they are garbage....i have a saying....'We better watch out how we treat God's kids....and all of us are His children!'....God is a Protective Parent and we surely must stop and speak with kindness to all.
We must think before we talk....we need to all develop self control....yes...i said it....SELF CONTROL....and patience.  Our mouths have the potential of 'killing' someone deep inside.  Better not to speak if we cannot do so civilly....in kindness....we can express our anger...we can express our feelings, but it better be in control or not at all.  When the anger is too high....wait.....when we are a lose canon, wait....when we feel like punching something....we must close our mouths and wait until our frontal lobe of reasoning begins to engage again.  Write the letter and do not send it .....edit it 10 times before you ever think of sending it.....until it is a mature respectful expression of what you want to say....talk to them only when you can do it in the same way. Very funny how you feel a day or two later after the incident....it loses power as time passes....How important is it anyway...if someone is not bleeding or dying there is no need for this rise in us....

Let's really evaluate our words, facial expressions...accusations....we can never really know a person's motive or background info from their lives.....i knew a priest who i particularly was not fond of because he worked mostly from his intellect and i am drawn to those who have mastered intellect expressed thru the heart....but there was one huge contribution he made to my life....every time he preached he expressed this line....."Always....Always give the benefit of the doubt!".....God bless him...for that is his gift to us....reminding us to cut some slack to everyone because we all are carrying burdens....and just maybe that person you are screaming at may have a cross in their life that is 100 times greater than anything you are walking thru.

til next time...let's pray James 3....Great Wisdom....and meditate on this great lesson in 'Taming the tongue'......be assured of my continued prayers and look for miracles in your lives...everyday is full of them...ang


http://www.usccb.org/bible/james/3

"The Truth shall set you free!" John 8:32

32"and you will know the Truth, and the Truth will set you free.”

i found an insert from the The New York Times i had saved.....Their title, "Truth, it's more important now than ever!"...what great depth and insight in their version....but i wanted to spin off their title and make my opening Scripture the title ...& end with Scripture also...Using a capital T instead of a small case t.  They repeated over and over, "The truth is"....for each and every description... but i condensed it. 

There is One Truth....and God plays no favorites in revealing His Truth....if one is sincere..and truly desires to find God and Truth, God will bestow it on them....and so the insert reads (edited a bit):

The Truth is hard....hidden.... & must be pursued....
The Truth is hard to hear....rarely simple....& rarely obvious...
The Truth doesn't take sides....is not red or blue...
The Truth is necessary....it can't be glossed over....& it has no agenda
The Truth is hard to accept...pulls no punches....yet is worth defending...
The Truth requires taking a stand...

32"and you will know the Truth, and the Truth will set you free.”

til next time....Let's increase our prayer time....silent time with the Living God...and allow Him to infuse Absolute Truth in our minds, hearts and souls....here are some Scritpures that talk about Truth.....ang

https://bible.knowing-jesus.com/topics/Absolute-Truth

i am sorry....and be a Fruit inspector!

i have been reading some greats who lived before us who fought to change the wrongs of the Catholic Church for yrs yet remained Catholic because of the Fullness of Truth they found there.

i want to apologize to anyone who did not encounter the full Love of God in people while in my church....to anyone deeply hurt by a priest, sister, nun, brother or lay person.    Too often we profess we are holy, religious, active in church, yet we have no resemblance to the One and Only True God!  Fr. Jim Ferry, a charismatic priest who was on Fire with Love for Jesus, always said, "Be a Fruit inspector"....this matches a quote in Scripture....Mt 7:15-16

15“Beware of false prophets, who come to you in sheep’s clothing, but underneath are ravenous wolves.16By their fruits you will know them."

Let us today examine ourselves to see what type of Fruit we give.  Let's simplify....go deeper than anyone we have ever known who is holy.....Love like our life depends on It....knowing others' lives are sooo hungry and in need of It.  

And if we find ourselves depleted, let's take a break...go for a walk..eat something..sit silently with eyes closed and experience His Restoration and then go forward again ,when our cup is full,to bring His Love to everyone we meet....to every situation in our lives....remembering....Prayer is not for God....it is for us....let's make more time for it...for without serious prayer  many times a day, we can never reflect the Full Love of Jesus in a world desperately in need.  

And when we find someone in a place of worship who really lacks in kindness and Love, let us move away if need be or stay and be an example of Love.... and ask God for the ability to forgive, and pray for that person to be  healed and for them to experience God's Love for themselves fully so they can also carry His Light to a darkened world one day.  

til next time.....let's be Fruit inspectors starting with ourselves.....be assured of my continued prayers for all of  you!  Plz remember me in yours....ang

Welcome Singapore!

Welcome Singapore!!!  Being English is one of the four languages from your country....i will list my welcome in English only...Thanks for joining us.  We are a very diverse group from many countries.  i hope and pray you join us again and encourage you to invite all those you love and know.  Be assured of my continued prayers.  angie

OH...HOW HE LOVES US!!!!!

Our God is soooo Merciful He knows the Solutions even before we even utter the questions.  Oh how i love Him!!!  Unfailing....Always On Time....Miraculous....Fair.....Impartial.....Unconditionally Loving....Affectionate....Forgiving...Beautiful....Omnipotent...King.....Majesty....Creator...Confidant....Redeemer....Lover....Comforter....Shield....Refuge...Hiding Place...Fortress....Stronghold...Defender....Rock...Liberating...Reliable...Trustworthy....(now start your own list of Adjectives to describe God.)...the list goes on and on.....

"Oh how He Loves us!!!"....My favorite song...sometimes i weep and twirl and dance and worship with this song.  Enjoy!...take it in....God really really loves us!!!!  Til next time....let's watch this video twice....ang

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GzfPHnoT0-0

Welcome Sweden... Välkommen Sverige

Välkommen Sverige .... snälla kom igen och bjud in all din familj och vänner. Tack för att du kom med oss.Jag ber för dig.


Welcome Sweden....please come back an visit again and invite all your family and friends.  Thank you for joining us.  i am praying for you!