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