I AM...GOD'S NERD

Another day in the ongoing days of Lent.  I am not behind, but not ahead of my intentions for a good Lent.  I have nothing to brag about in my efforts.  In a sense, I am 'up to par,' but I have being slow and poky about my exercises today.  I guess I am tired and I am not even half-way along the way.  I am not quitting...I am just not up to speed today, but bumbling along.

I think the weather has something to do with my lassitude.  It is cold, damp, and gray, with the promise of more mixed snow and or rain.

I just can't think of much to post that has not been addressed by experts...and I am not an expert on much of anything.  I often wonder...why did I write what I did?  I think that my postings could have been written better or better expressed.  Then I think that I did the best I could at the time.  I am here to please the Lord our God, not the readers that may or may not read my paltry missive.  If I can do some good or strike upon some little truth, then I am happy.  As I have said many times...I am not a theologian and I do the best I can with what I have.  No one can accuse me of being an intellectual, esp. when it comes to the affairs of the spirit.  God gave me a smattering of grace...to seek His grace and His everlasting Love.  As it says in the Bible, "Seek and you shall find."

Tomorrow...I shall continue to seek, but in the meantime...I am going to bed.  Funny though, I often wake up with a prayer on my lips...just call me a nerd, I guess.

END

 

Where two or more are gathered...

Spiritual growth generally does not happen overnight, but to clarify that, in some cases it does.  In some there is an ephiney awareness of God's presence and graces.  For most,us it is a progression from a spiritual infancy, adolencene, a degree of maturity and a continuum of 'senior moments' of grace and absorbency into the enfoldment of a of God's love.

Lent helps to grow in the spirit as we evaluate, meditate, open to and receive God's love.  We don't change overnight.  What and who I was yesterday is not who and what I am today.  Tomorrow I will be different than I am right now...as you and all of us will be.  Small...or large subtle changes occur in all of us minute by minute,  day by day, time into time.  We are not stagnant mentally or physically.  Do you want to be?  Not I.  I want to grow in the spirit of God and become as near as I can, the person, the creation, that He intended me to be.  I want to love the Lord and to acknowledge His love for me.

This evening there was a holy hour/exposition at church after mass.  It wasn't as cold as it was last Wed.  However, most of the people left early or just dwindled away and out the doors.  It reminded me of The Agony in The Garden, when the Apostles could not keep vigil with Christ as He prayed and struggled with the knowledge of His coming sacrifice.  I stayed.  It was long; an hour and a half.  I did not want to abandon Christ on the alter as I know that He is ever present to, in, and for me.  In the end there were only about four of us left to give adoration to our Savior.  But we stayed, Lord, we stayed...as You have for us:  Ever constant...ever present. Amen.

END

YOU AND I ARE LOVED

Do you feel the presence of God?  Has God come up to you, tapped you on the shoulder and said, "Here I am, did you call?  It isn't likely, but not impossible, that we would hear from Him directly.  Yet, He is in everything we see, hear, do and experience.  It is we who should be seeking and speaking to God and saying, 'Here I am Lord...do with me what you will.'

In this time of Lent it is often hard to keep the faith in what we set out to achieve in the name of penance.  It is also hard to have a relationship with a God that we can not see or feel.  We trust in the Lord and know that He is ever-present in our lives, even if we can not feel Him or makes His presence known to us.  He is there.  It is called faith, and in faith we give Him our adoration and love.

I can't see the wind, but I know that the wind is there.  I can't see a radio wave, but I know that the radio plays and the TV is "live" and often annoying.  We tend to tune out the radio and TV...and God.  He doesn't tune us out, even if you don't get a text message from Him.  God is constant.  We are not.

Lent is hard at times because we are not consistent in our intent, our love and our faith.  We waver and flit...like the wind.  Sometimes the wind blows where it will as we are inclined to do, also.  If you don't have a direct link to God, don't despair.  Some of the greatest saints went for years without feeling the presence of God.  They kept the faith...never gave up...never shut the door in the face of God.  Keep the door open, the wind will flow into our hearts and souls...it is what God wants...an invitation into our lives...full scale.

Now Job was a whiny, kind of bitter complaining guy who was beset with all kinds of bad days and years, plagues and losses.  We would do well to remember that Job never lost his faith even though he mumbled and grumbled for 37 years, he never lost his faith or doubted in God.  Read the book of Job and think of how much nicer we have it.  I, for one, would not cope well with boils and blisters and all the major upsets that Job endured.

Thus, I try to stick closely with what I have
resolved to do in this Lenten Season.  While I tend to think that I may have determined to "do too much," it really isn't.  I have not been nailed to a cross to die in agony for all my transgressions.  Love the Lord as He has and does love you(all of us).  After all, He died for you and I.  Can we not have faith, adoration and love for Him in return?

END

Daily Intents

I took a day off from this blog.  And I took the liberty of sleeping late Saturday morning.  Sometimes I just need to stop and charge my batteries.

I fell behind in my Lenten reading, but I caught up today.  And, even though it is Monday I stayed in to do what I needed to do.  Some of that was to wash and dry cloths, fold and put them away.  Tomorrow, on Tuesday, I need rev up my engine and go to the store.  I only need a few things so that won't take me long.

It is chilly and damp.  Rain is coming.  We are having a couple days of rain and on Wed. It is supposed to be a mixture of rain and snow.  God made the rain, but I have cold feet!

Today is page or lesson 13 in my little book of spiritual enlightenment. The lessons given are not always easy to practice, but are practical.  Being that we are human...we are not always practical, let alone always able to practice what is preached.  It is one thing to read what is pleasing to the Lord, but often is not what we do or know what the Lord expects of us.  How many times have you heard the expression, "practice what you preach?"

The Lord wants us to love him completely.
"Love the Lord your God with all your hearts and with all your mind and with all your strength."  Mark wrote that in Ch. 12: 30 (NIV).  Do you do that?  Even the saints stumbled, as do we all.  God knew that we would and that is why He forgives us in our weaknesses and for our many sins.  The Lord wants us to do better...try harder...give it the "old college try" every day.  Each day is a new opportunity to love the Lord.  Now is a good time to start because our days are numbered and our allotted span on this earthly plain is short.  We all better "get cracking."

You may think, 'well, it is easy for you to say, but do you live by what you write?'  It is an ever on-going effort to love the Lord as He has asked of me...of all of us.  I do trip over my own tongue often and think uncharitable thoughts.  I often falter throughout the day.  I can only say the intent is there...to love and give
God homage due.

The Season of Lent is a time for a lot of introspection and mostly this blog is about my own internal motivation, personal meditation and personal prayers.  I hope I improve in my daily encounters with and for the love of Christ, my Lord.

END

VACATION FOR MY BRAIN

I'm sending my brain on vacation tonight.  In other words I'm tired and can't think of anything new or unique to write about.  Maybe you could call it writer's block, but I think I will just say that writing each night is not easy.  I hope everyone understands.

This day was spent at Mass, and then at the 14 Stations of the Cross afterward.  Also, I have my own private, personal prayers, yes, really, during the day and evening.  Everything takes time and before you know it...the day is gone.

So with that in mind I'm going to bed a little bit earlier...before midnight.

THE LORD

IS MY STRENGTH

AND MY SONG

AND HE HAS

BECOME

MY SALVATION:

HE IS MY GOD,

MY FATHER'S GOD,

AND I WILL

EXULT HIM.

 

Exodus 15: 2

 

This is a slightly different translation, but the message is the same in all languages.

 

END

PRAY OFTEN

How does your Lent go?  Well, I hope.  I stay at home in quietude.  This a time for more prayers and reflection, a time to change and grow in the spirit.

Prayer is hard to define.  It isn't the same for everyone.  As each of us is different in so many ways, so are the prayers that we offer up to our God.  The only immutable aspect of prayer is that we offer all our prayers to the same, one God. 

Prayer is a challenge.  It is a desire, a discipline and a quest to love and be loved by God.  It is not the same as earthly love, but earthly love of the right nature is a prayer and worship. too.

I can't tell you what prayer is or how to pray.  We learn to pray and worship God by an inner commitment and calling.  It a supernatural gift of the spirit.  All of us started with the the need to pray and to have God listen to us.  It is a "throw away" gift that many of us lose along the way.

Hold on to your gift of prayer and communicate with God often during the day.  When and as we pray, we worship God as He wishes.  In everything you do or say, make it an act of worship and prayer.

I knew a Sister that spilled a bowl of peas all over the floor.  She got down on her hands and knees and picked up everyone of the peas, asking no one else to do it for her.  She did it humbly and in prayer.  Once I opened the linen room door and she was on her knees again...praying...worshiping...giving homage to God.

 

Can we pray like that?  If not, why not?  You can be as humble and worshipful as she, if you want to.  In this time of Lent...all of us...should at least try to be Children of God.

 

Am I a person of perfect prayer?  No, but I give it an honest effort each and every day.  "Lord, hear my prayers."

 

END

 



 



 



 

THE PLEASURE OF GOD

It is bitter cold as I write tonight.  Church was warm during Mass, but for the Exposition it became much colder and most people left.  I stayed for the whole time, but literaly had to sit on my hands to keep them warm.  What is a little discomfort compared to being crucified and dying on a cross?  Christ "stuck it out," and so did we that decided to stay and pray.

 



 YOU CREATED

EVERYTHING

AND IT IS FOR YOUR

PLEASURE

THAT THEY EXIST

AND WERE CREATED

Revelation 4: 11

 

Thus was the lesson of the day; that we exist for God's pleasure, and that THE LORD TAKES PLEASURE IN HIS PEOPLE: Psalm 149.  We were created by Him to give Him pleasure, homage and glory.

 

Sometimes we give very little of what God expects of us in our daily lives...or the affairs of society and man.  We expect much for ourselves, but render very small amounts of what God has made us for.  Did you make someone happy, smile or give true pleasure in a Christian way?  If you did, you also gave worship to God, for Christ did say "whatsoever you do unto the least of my brothers, that you do unto me."

 

Right now, we are a country adrift, without a rudder or a star to steer by, and our ship has a few holes in its keel.  Pray for all the leader of every country, to work for the of pleasure of God and not for themselves.

 

END   

 

 

 

Day 7 of 40....GLORIFY GOD

 

FOR EVERYTHING

COMES

FROM GOD

ALONE.

EVERYTHING

LIVES

BY HIS POWER,

AND EVERYTHING

IS FOR HIS GLORY

 

Romans 11: 36

For me, this day 7  of Lent, with a long way to go.  Will I stick with my penitential resolutions, good deeds of positive works of character?  One can only pray to do so and to persevere.  Pray with me and for me as I am trying hard to continue the journey.

For this day I am seeking to reflect the glory of God in all that I say and do.  That's why God made us: to give Him all the glory and love that is His due.  Did you think that He put us here to bask in our own radiance?  We revolve around the Son; He does not revolve around us.  He has no need to.  We are the reason He came to earth in the form of Man, so that He could expedite and forgive us our sins and that we glorify His name with Love. 

You know that Love is a four letter word.  You can Love in this life or hate in this realm God created for us.  While most of do not think of the two words as opposing one another, they do.  We just don't think. You make your choice;  Love a lot or not.  To not Love the God who made you is like hating yourself.  And to not Love God is to seek excuses to do what we want, when we want, or to whomever we wish.  If you or I don't Love God we simply open the door to all the ills of the world, including hatred and evil.

Did you glorify God today?  Did I?  Did I slip or fail at anytime through this day?  Of course I did, but not with any intention of doing so.  I am in His image, but not perfect.  It is a Loving God that lets us pick ourselves up out of the dust pile, shake the dust off and lets us start over.  Each day, hour or minute is new for us, but is eternal for God.  Even so, God won't wait forever, for as He is without end, we are not...at least not here, where we are, and now. Reflect the Glory of God in all things that you are capable of, and eternity is promised to all that Love Him and His Holy precepts.

Today I thought I would try to fix some tiles that have come down from the ceiling.  The tiles that I have are really of poor quility and were breaking as I tried to set them in place.  Besides, dirt was coming down in my face.  I guess I will wait 'til the weather warms up and have someone come in and do the job for me.

END

DAY 6...

Lent day 6:

As I write this, it is day 6 of the Lenten Season.  For some of you it is already day 7.  As it is 10: 40 by my time, day 7 will come soon enough.  Or will it.  When we go to sleep at night we never know what the new day will bring...or if we will have a new day.  The book that I am reading says that we are here on "temporary assignment," and that we should live each day as well as we can...as if it were our last day.

We may not have tomorrow...or many tomorrows.  Life is an unexpected journey.  Expect surprises, disappointments, plans to go awry, but know that God is ever present and does not change: we do.  Hopefully, prayerfully, we change and grow for the better, the spirit of Christ, during our short span  of "class room" work in the here and now.  Are you doing your home work?  One thing is for certain.  We will answer for our time on earth, in this "temporary assignment."

+++

LORD,

REMIND ME

HOW BRIEF

MY TIME

ON EARTH

WILL BE.

REMIND ME

THAT MY DAYS

ARE NUMBERED

AND MY LIFE

IS FLEETING

AWAY.

 

 

Psalm 39: 4-5

 

 

We all start out well for our Lenten penances or good deeds.  It is a little bit like making New Year's Resolutions.  Like all good intentions, sometimes the personal pact we make with ourselves becomes long and tedious.  It is a discipline. As Christ schooled himself for his Crucifixion, we must also.  God is always close.  We are never alone.  He is in our hearts. 

 

END

 

 P.S.  Just a reminder that I am reading THE PURPOSE DRIVEN LIFE by Rich Warren as a guide for my spiritual reading through the Lenten Season.  It is a good guide as it has the 40 days covered in spiritual awareness and progress for the quest that all of us are on.  PAX

IN GOD'S IMAGE

Do you know that your made in the image of God?  It says so in the Bible.  Your going to say, if that is true, then what about so and so, or someone you know or see, hear of or care about?  If you are in doubt, look into your mirror.  You will see your own image.  It is a reflection of who you are, not what you are.  It is not the true image of you.  And it is so with God.  We are made in His image...a reflection of God, but we are not clones or exact copies of God.

If you look into a cracked or warped mirror you will peer upon a distorted vision of your self.  And often we chose to see a less than perfect picture of God, mostly because we don't understand what scripture intends us see; not the physical, but the Spirit.  

The essence of God or His image is within.  It is the spirit of God that we should see shinning forth in all that we say and do; how we live our lives and portray His image.

 

There are a lot of theological discourses on the scriptural meanings of what was written; that man and  woman were made in God's likeness.  You can look it up and read directly from your Bible, if you wish.  Also, you can find more information on the Internet...better than I can give.  I have  a tendency over-simplify.

See: Gen 1: 26-27
1 Cor. 11:7
Acts 17: 29

Because we are in the very first days of Lent , as in the first days Genesis, it would be good to know where we are derived from,  and therefore try to act and live according to His image.

+++

 

GOD IS THE ONE

WHO MADE

ALL THINGS,

AND ALL THINGS

ARE FOR HIS GLORY.

HE WANTED

TO HAVE MANY

CHILDREN

TO SHARE HIS

GLORY.

 

Hebrews 2: 10 (NVC)

 

I spent most of this day in a "cleaning frenzy."  The last time I got into a cleaning frenzy I broke my arm, forever never to be the same.  I gave my washer and dryer a good work-out, too.  It takes me forever to do what used to take a lot less time.

 

My TV is off for the next 40 days and my house is very quiet.  During this time I am doing extra prayers.  I guess my "penance" is house work as it much harder for me to do than it was three years ago, yet I count it a blessing that I can still do what is required, if only a lot slower.  I just need to be careful and not trip over cords!

 

I started cleaning out the pantry and took some canned goods to Saint Vincent De Paul's.  I suppose that will have to be my alms-giving as I am not overly rich.  There are more canned good to go.  I wish I could do more.

 

 

END

 





YOU ARE WHO YOU ARE FOR A REASON

YOU ARE WHO YOU ARE FOR A REASON

YOU ARE PART OF AN INTRICATE PLAN

YOU'RE A PRECIOUS AND PERFECT UNIQUE DESIGN

CALLED GOD'S SPECIAL WOMAN OR MAN

 

YOU LOOK LIKE YOU LOOK FOR A REASON

OUR GOD MADE NO MISTAKE

HE KNIT YOU TOGETHER WITHIN THE WOMB

YOUR JUST WHAT HE WANTED TO MAKE

 

THE PARENTS YOU HAD WERE THE ONES HE CHOSE

AND NO MATTER HOW YOU MAY FEEL

THEY WERE CUSTOM-DESIGNED

WITH GOD'S PLAN IN MIND

AND THEY BEAR THE MASTER'S SEAL

 

NO, THE TRAUMA YOU FACED WAS NOT EASY

AND GOD WEPT THAT IT HURT YOU SO;

THAT IT WAS ALLOWED TO SHAPE YOUR HEART

SO THAT INTO HIS LIKENESS YOU'D GROW

 

YOU ARE WHO YOU ARE FOR A REASON

YOU'VE BEEN FORMED BY THE MASTER'S ROD

YOU ARE WHO YOU ARE, BELOVED

BECAUSE THERE IS A GOD!

 

by Russel Kelfer

 

It isn't easy to move beyond what we have always been told what and who we are.  We have been told all our lives what others say and think we are.  Seldom are we told that we are God's creations, just as we are.  However, God wants all of us to grow in His spirit and love.  After all, we are not happy accidents of random DNA and gnomes.  If that were the result of our being, we would be swimming in the seas or just a collection ameba's or simple celled entities.  No, we are much more than that; we have souls.  Even those that have limited minds or functions, have souls, the need to have love and give love.  Only God can create a soul.  If in doubt you must be around, work with, or live with someone that has limited capacities of one type or another, for they have unlimited abilities to receive and give love.  God made them just as they are, too, to teach us to be better, more caring people as we travel this road.  All of are special..."somebodies"...because we belong to God, for God and He loves us unconditionally.

 

+++

 

MOST OF ALL

LET LOVE

GUIDE YOUR LIFE,

FOR THEN

THE WHOLE CHURCH

WILL STAY TOGETHER

IN PERFECT

HARMONY



 

Colossians 3:14 (LB)

 

As this is just the beginning of Lent, make LOVE a part of your penance.  Sounds odd?  It isn't.  Forgive someone their transgressions or malice toward you and LOVE will flow.

 

 

END

 

 

 





CHRIST FOREWORD

 

 

I AM YOUR CREATOR.

YOU WERE IN MY CARE

EVEN BEFORE

YOU WERE BORN.

 

ISAIAH 44:2 a

(CEV)

CONTEMPORARY ENGLISH VERSION

 

 

 

 I thought I would change or move some of the text around a bit. Change is good and this Lenten season is all about change.  After all, I know that readers don't come here because I am beautiful, rich or saintly.  The readers come to this post because they want to hear more about God.  So, I have put right it right on top where it is readily assessable and they do not need to wade through my drivel.  I regret that I do not do a better job of presenting The Word of God.

Sometimes I think we have the wrong slant on what Lent should be.  As I do not argue with the Church or tradition, I just think we should put more emphasis on the positive teachings of Christ.  As you read the NEW TESTAMENT you will see that Christ preached and lived without teaching very much in the negative.  Christ was a foreword thinking, foreword moving, engaging kind of NEW MAN, the Son of God.  We are God's children and we need to be as close to His image and ways as we can get.  We mimic our parents and we should mimic Christ as well.

I pray everyone has a productive, positive Lenten season with multiple spiritual blessings

END

 

CHRIST POSITIVE

This has been a quite day...on purpose.  A kind of preparation day for Lent.  Tomorrow is a day of fasting, contemplation, meditation, penance.   If you are over 65, ill or debilitated...or have dispensensation, you are not obligated to fast.

+++

 

RUN FROM

ANYTHING

THAT GIVES

YOU THE

EVIL THOUGHTS.

STAY CLOSE

TO ANYTHING

THAT MAKES YOU

WANT TO DO RIGHT.

 

2 Timothy 2: 22

(lb)

 

Now...during the next 40 days, is a good time to contemplate the words of Timothy.  We all sin.  We all have evil thoughts.  We all have moments of meanness, words of strife and less than LOVE in our hearts for our fellow man.  Now is a good time to RUN from these failings in our nature and replace these negatives with the positives of Christ Jesus.

 

END

 

 

 



 

 

 



WHAT GOD WANTS

God isn't dead and the Pope isn't either.  While newsworthy, the retirement of the Pope shouldn't put the whole world in a tizzy and rock the Church.  Let the Pope retire in peace.  The church will continue on.  No one lives forever in this world.  As a  priest can retire at the age of 75, a frail Pope can resign at the age of 85.  The yoke has been heavy, the spirit has been willing, but the body betrays us all.

 

As lent is really upon us, I have already started "gearing up" for it.  The one thing that I will do and share with everyone, is to give up TV for the Lenten season. I tell you this because we are all...well, many of us, are enslaved to the television.  My TV will go into retirement via Insight until Easter.  I am making a list of what I wish to do for Lent, but I will not reveal my hopes of accomplishments, lest I fail.  If I fail only God and I will know it.

 

Last year my goal was to pray the rosary three times a day.  I did keep to my goal, but it wasn't easy.  Nothing worthy is easy or a walk in the park.

 

My church is discontinuing the noon time Mass.  This does make me happy and I am sure that those of us that go that mass are not too thrilled, either.  It is a time that many older, infirm or sick can go to without having to get up at five to make it to a seven a. m. mass.  By lunch time most snow, ice or rain has gone which is good for the elderly.  The church is not right next door and I and others have to drive there in the dark and foul weather...nope, happy I am not. 

 

+++

 

GOD'S GRACIOUS

WORD

CAN MAKE YOU

INTO WHAT

HE WANTS

YOU TO BE

AND GIVES YOU

EVERYTHING

YOU COULD

POSSIBLY NEED.

 

Act 20: 12(msg)

 

I think most of us spend our lives trying to figure out what God wants us to be...what he wants of us.  It is simple, yet very hard to do at times.  God just wants us to love Him and glorify His name, and He will do the rest.

 

END 

 

 

 

 



 

 

 

GREAT MEN BELIEVE..SMALL MEN DON'T

Whoever said that we were going to have a warm winter did not confer with Mother Nature or to The God of Wind, and forgot to seek out Jack Frost's opinion.  They were wrong and could have asked anyone with arthritis or painful joints just how the winds would blow.   We know before the weather man does, even with his big satellites in the sky, the winter is and will be erratic.

Yesterday it was 65 degrees and today it is a balmy 32 degrees and gray.  We had rain while the east is getting snow.  Cold and dreary...I like it not.  Some like it cold, some like it hot...me...I like it just right: around 70 degrees pleases me.

+++

 

"SURELY

GOD WOULD NOT

HAVE CREATED

SUCH A BEING

AS MAN

TO EXIST

ONLY FOR A DAY!

NO, NO,

MAN WAS MADE

FOR

IMMORTALITY."

 

These are the words of Abraham Lincoln.

 

+++

 

GOD HAS PLANTED

ETERNITY...

IN THE HUMAN HEART

 

Ecclesiastes.3: 11

 

There is a book out there somewhere that states that man is hardwired to believe in God.  I remember that the book was controversial at the time, as in essence the author seemed to be saying that there was no God.  I didn't read the book so I don't really know what the author was trying to convey.  There will always be believers and disbelievers.  Abraham Lincoln believed in God and read the bible every day.  He was possibly our greatest president.  He believed...and so do I.

 

 

END

 

 



 

THE TAPISTRY OF LIFE

I really, really didn't want to go to mass this morning.  Mostly because I had some really, really bad discomfort in my left knee.  I felt it coming on yesterday, but it woke me up in the night.  I could hardly bear weight on the left knee.  I thought about it and made up my mind that I would go and "offer it up."  So I went.  I am trying to "walk it off."  It is better tonight. 

Tomorrow is another funeral mass.  There weren't very many people in church today.  Probably because it was such a pretty day; sunny and 65 degrees.  Or, as it is mostly older people that attend...maybe their knees hurt, too!

I got out and did a few things this afternoon, in spite of an arthritic knee.  I got the oil changed in the van.  I have been putting it off due to the weather and not being as rich as I would like to be.  Now, it is done.

I got a few more groceries from the store.  I got some fresh...or as fresh as you are gonna get, vegetables. Canned vegetables are OK, but I just wanted some nice green stuff for a change.  Now I will have some yummy stuff on my plate.  What makes your day?

+++

 

GOD

BLESSES

THE PEOPLE

WHO

PATIENTLY

ENDURE

TESTING.

AFTERWARD

THEY Will

RECEIVE

THE CROWN

OF LIFE

THAT GOD HAS

PROMISED

TO THOSE

WHO LOVE HIM.

 

James 1:12 (NLT)

 

I was tested this morning.  We all are, every day, even if we are unaware of it. Every day is like a "pop quiz day."  How you fill in the blanks and write in the answers is up to you.  In my case I come from a long line of stubborn, headed people.  I was not about to give in to a bad knee, knowing that there are so many in the world that are really suffering and being tested beyond measure.  I do know that I would not have "felt right" if I didn't move myself and go to worship the Lord and receive communion.  I also feel the same way about the rosary.  If I don't pray the rosary every day, a piece of the tapestry is missing a few threads...not quite complete in the framework that holds me all together.

 

END



"WHERE TWO OR MORE..."

After running around yesterday I was tired.  I decided to take a nap.  The nap turned out to be a long siesta in the late afternoon.  Needless to say I did not sleep well last night.  I was wide awake and stayed that way until the wee hours of the morning.  Today, even though I was sleepy I didn't make the same mistake and lie down.  I should sleep tonight!

There isn't much going on.  I did go to the Ruler store and noticed that their prices are going up.  Eggs, which were $00.29 cents per dozen, are now $00.79 cents per dozen.  That still is a bargain as was the milk at $1.49 per gallon.  Now all I need is cookies to go with my milk.

This seems to be a week for funeral masses.  There is one every day until Friday.  While I am not at all fond of funerals...I went.  I never know who most of the people are and feel out of place in large gatherings.

+++

"WHERE TWO
OR MORE
ARE GATHERED
IN MY NAME,
THERE
I WILL BE ALSO"

Matt. 18: 20 NIV

 This is something I should bare in mind as I am not comfortable in large groups or crowds.  I am there for the mass, for the union of the Eucharist, and not for my personal comfort zone. 

 

END

 

 



"I AM THE WAY"

Well, I have been out and running around today.  I bought a new sweater that was marked down from $34.00 to $19.00, but with my Goody's card I got it for $11.00 dollars.  I do love those saving cards.

I also got a much needed hair cut.  Then I went to the Chinese resturant where the food was all cold.  I guess they turned the steam table down after the lunch time rush.  The one thing I didn't get done, is to go to the grocery store.  I will try to get out of the way after Mass tomorow.

Everyone knows that Lent is about to begain next week on Ash Wed, right?  40 days and 40 nights of penance...or what I prefer to do is to make positive changes in my life.  What shall I do...well, I'm not telling...so there.

+++

 

FOR GOD,

WHO HAS

COMMANDED,

LIGHT TO SHINE

OUT OF DARKNESS,

HAS SHONE

IN OUR HEARTS,

TO GIVE

ENLIGHTENMENT

CONCERING

THE KNOWLEDGE

OF THW GLORY

OF GOD,

SHINING ON THE FACE

OF CHRIST JESUS.

 

2 Cor. 4: 6

 

Do you ever stop to wonder what todays's world would be like if it had not been for the coming of Christ?  Would crucifiction still be the accepted punishment of and by the powers of the world?  As our present world is as violent as it is...how much worse would...or could it be, if Christ had not come in the form of Man to lead us and teach us that LOVE is the ultimate way.

 

END

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 



GOD WATCHES OVER CATS, TOO

On the way to  the bank I got hit by a cat.  Really.  The cat hit me.  Obviously it was not an urban feline and did not know that it was supposed to look both ways before crossing the street.  Instead it shot across the street as if Marmaduke, the big, brown dog was hot on his trail...or tail.  Said cat slammed right into the rear quarter panel behind the wheel of my van.  I did stop to see what had smacked into my van, but the cat kept right on going as if it tail was on fire.  As said cat tore off and kept on flying, I can only surmise that it did not suffer everlasting injury.  While I am not a cat lover it is not my intention to cause cats pain or distress.

Novels start as; "It was a dark and windy (or stormy) night," and you are never, ever supposed to start your great literary novel that way.  So I will just say it was a cloudy, windy day, with rain slapping in my face.  "In your face! says Mother Nature.  I wish Mother Nature would get her act together and decide which way she wants to go: snow..rain..sleet..or what?  I did not want to go out today as the weather was so changeable.  At least most of the snow is gone, washed away with all the salt and road grime. 

Right now I am thinking that I need a new tiller for the garden in my mind.  I hope to put in a good garden this spring and get lots of good vegetables to eat, can and or freeze.  My old tiller just isn't what it used to be, esp. as it is missing a carburetor and a gas tank.  If I could find spare parts for it I could save some money.  Thus far, the garden is in my imagination, waiting to become a reality.  "Money is the root of all evil," but it takes money to put your garden into a real plot of dirt.  No, I can't just dig it up by hand.

+++

 

THE LORD MADE

TO GROW,

OUT OF THE GROUND

ALL KIND OF TREES,

PLEASANT TO THE SIGHT

AND GOOD FOR FOOD,

THE TREE OF LIFE,

ALSO IN THE MIDST

OF THE GARDEN,

AND THE KNOWLEDGE

OF GOOD AND EVIL.

 

Gen. 2: 9

 

While it is awesome that God created the earth and man out of the void, and gave him dominion over all the seas, animals and plants, leave it to man to mess things up and blame it on a woman!  Like Eve twisted Adam's arm and forced him to eat that apple.  She must have been a Summa Wrestler!  Adam did have free will and made the choice, right?  Right!  So now we must earn our bread by the sweat of our brow.  Thanks a lot Adam.  Actually, I am quite willing to put in the sweat and time because I enjoy fresh food from the garden...and eating it.

 

END



GLORIFY GOD IN SPEECH

 I feel as if I am sitting within an iceberg.  I put on an extra pair of socks for cold feet.  I have cut back my heat a little as the utility bill has doubled.  I did did shut of the electric heater.  That is the biggest user of energy. 

We had some ice and a small amount of snow.  It was 11 degrees when I got up this morning with a wind chill factor of ZIP-zero-0.  I stayed home.  I feel a little guilty that I didn't make it out for First Friday Mass. but I am sure that I wasn't the only one to not brave the bitter cold and ice.

So...I stayed in near the furnace and read some.  I think got new books from the library just in time.  If I have books I don't get "cabin fever."  I did some good cooking, too.  If it stays cold next week I might make some home-made bread.  That will heat up the kitchen, for certain!

So...I intend to get under the covers soon and try to warm up.  I'm not coming out from under until spring!

+++

 

GOD IS THE ONE

WHO MADE

ALL THINGS,

AND ALL THINGS

ARE FOR HIS GLORY.

HE WANTED

MANY CHILDREN

TO SHARE

HIS GLORY.

 

Hebrews 2: 10 (NCV)

 

The other night I was listening to a well know radio host and his guest talking about how so many young people are using that famous "four letter word" in everyday conversation, over and over.  We are judged by what and how we speak-what comes out of our mouth.  It doesn't take intelligence to spew forth foul language.  It is more in the line of "stupid is, what stupid says" and Stupid One can not or will not use acceptable vocabulary and grammar.  Vile, foul, vulgar, word usage is now getting people fired from their jobs.  The pendulum is now swinging back toward conservatism, good manners and ethical behavior.  We want to always speak in a manner that Glorifies God.  Do you speak with respect and decorum?  If we converse with a cruddy mouth, the  do we not have a cruddy heart?  Does your speech glorify the God who made your or do you sound like someone who eats dirt?

 

END