2012 gone.....2013 slides in on a minor storm

New year's Eve of 2013.  I don't know what the rest of the world is doing tonight, but I am staying home and off the roads, drinking my hot tea.  Yes, plain ol' hot tea.  And I have the perfect remedy for a hangover.....don't...just don't.  You know exactly what I mean.  If you don't, you won't...have a wreak, fall down and break your head, waste your money or have a sick stomach and headache tomorrow.

Now as for New Year's resolutions, be practical.  You know you won't keep most of them anyway.  Why do we need to wait for the new year to do what is right in our lives, improve our lives or decree that we will become better persons.  Shouldn't that be a daily endeavor?  I hereby resolve not to make any New Year's resolutions.  I do hereby intend to be a better individual, the best that I can or the best that I know how.  Well, good luck to me!

We are about to have our third storm of 2012 to usher out the old and bring on the new.  Yes, another storm starts tonight and is supposed to welcome in 2013.  At lest it is supposed to be a mild event and not as generous to us as the last two snows that we had.  Even so, with all the late rains and the snows, we are still about 12 inches below normal rains which means that we are still in a drought. What, a drought in winter in the middle of the country?   Oh Noooo....well, actually yes. 

Speaking of droughts, we are also in a political drought, where actions need to take precedent, but very little gets done.  There is a bunch of parasites and old geezers pretending too act in our behalf and for the good of the country.  Well, Ho, Ho, Ho, said  Ol' Saint Nick as he gleefully got out of town, back to his domain of the North, where the banksters and the politicos can't find him.  Smart old man, that St. Nick!

January 1 is also a Holy Day of Obligation, THE SOLEMNITY OF MARY the mother of Jesus.  I hope I can make it out for the mass and that the roads are dry and not slick.

HAPPY

HOLY

BLESSED

NEW YEAR

FOR 2013

 

!!!

 

END

 

 





Another storm comes

I am in for the duration.  I am going to hibernate until spring.  There is another storm on the way-actually it is here.  It started this evening with rain, sleet and then turned into snow.  I went to church, got milk, bread and a couple of other things.  Now I am in. I don't know what tomorrow brings, let alone Sunday.  One day at a time, says I.

There were not very many people at mass today.  It is mostly an older bunch that go to mass during the week.  I do not blame them for not getting out in the cold and on to bad streets.  I know it took me a while to clear my van and then drive over the snow that was plowed across my drive way.  I suppose that I will need to do it all over again.  Guess what...there is another storm on the way around Monday night and for Tuesday.  OK.  Maybe I just won't make it out for church.

As there isn't a lot to say during the winter months because ativities are curtailed or just plain absent.  I am sure the kids are happy with the snow.  I was when I was a kid.  Now I would rather let someone else play in the snow and just watch out the window.  I am in, warm and toasty.

+++

BUT BY THE GRACE

OF GOD

I AM WHAT I AM

AND HIS GRACE

IN ME

HAS NOT BEEN

FRUITLESS-

 

1 Corintians

ch. 15: 10

 

Paul is preaching that He, the least of the Apostles, has been converted to the teahings of Jesus.  He may think himself as the least of the Apostles, but God had plans or him in spite of his previous persecution of the Jews.  It tends to make one consider that there is redemption for all that believe in Christ and that there truely is many rooms in His Father's Mansion.  You have the key to open the lock to one of the many rooms.  Will you?

 

END

 



 

 

GOD IS AN ABSTRACT?

God is an abstract.  Like a painting on the wall; you may see the beauty the artist has rendered, but not be able to understand the picture within the frame. You can not see God, touch God, generally hear God's voice, and generally you can not feel God.  But that does not make God any less of what God is.  Some, in rare instances, have looked upon the face of God, and God has perhaps touched someone saintly, with the presence of His omnipotence.

We know that there is a God and that the God of Light is in all of us, perhaps brightly illuminating some, lighting the path for others, or only a dim spark in the soul of doubters and "disbelievers."

Yet, we know that there is a God in all things, within us, and everywhere.  Because we are of the human estate we can not envision God.  But God works through us as co-creators with the the capacity to imagine, construct a material world, seek the spiritual essance Him, and see God as only our limited vision can.

Look around and see the vast universe that God has created.  The cosmos is not a happy accident.  There is an elegance in the universe.  We, people of God, are such a complexity that only God could have made us.  Who can make a flower bloom or a tree bear fruit?  Man can procreate, but man can not create as God has.  You are special and have a God given dominion on the earth and over the earth.  And you/I have a soul.

Perhaps I am wrong, but I do not believe that there is a true atheist or agnostic.  We all believe that there is a "someone or a something" greater than we.  For me...I believe in God.  I may not understand all the greatness and fullness of God, but it is this simple.  I believe.  I see the presence of God in all that I look upon and God sees me.

The God who is an abstract to us, sent His Only Son to us, so that we would have a living, breathing, feeling savior that we could in our infancy of believing, relate to and follow the precepts that He taught.  He is the Shepherd of the flock and we are the lambs.  Jesus is the shepherd of our souls.

I wish I could express myself better and put into words what I am trying to convey.  I can't.  I am dumber than a box of rocks.  At the same time I wonder is anyone, philosopher, theologian or just a big brain, can explain God.  If you can, and you know, let me in on whatever secrets you hold.

I suppose that sometimes I am hard to follow.  I often have a hard time trying to understand what I write.  I guess I try to write as the Spirit directs me.  I hope that I, in my weakness of understanding, do not mis-direct anyone here.  After all, it isn't like I am a Thomas Merton

END

MOTHER OF GOD

The blizzard of 2012 came and went.  Basically it was a "snow job" with over 7 inches of snow here in this local.  I am sure that it had a bad effect on many and caused sorrow to those that were tragically impacted by the storm.  To me it was nothing in comparison to the blizzard of 1977.  In that blizzard the highways were closed down for a good week with a good inch of solid ice on the roadways.   I was stuck at work for about a week as my car was plowed under.  This time I was at home, warm and happy and watching it out the window.  This time my driveway was blocked by the snow plow, but that's O. K.  I wasn't going anywhere...no how...no way.

A lot of the snow melted as the day wore on, but there is still plenty of it out there, and now what melted is freezing.  I would like to get out and go to mass tomorrow, but if I don't...I don't.  I would like to pick up some bread and milk if I do get out.  Gotta have my milk.

It is possible that there will be more snow and crude over the week-end.  We will get what we get and like it.  I...don't...like...it.

 

+++







AND A GREAT SIGN

APPEARED IN HEAVEN;

A WOMAN CLOTHED

WITH THE SUN,

AND THE MOON

WAS UNDER HER FEET,

AND UPON HER

A CROWN OF TWELVE

******STARS******

 

 

Apocalypse 12: vs. 1-2

 

 

 

 I didn't copy all the verses as for now I really only wanted to relate to what is above.  Some of you know that I have a deep devotion to the Mother of Jesus and pray the rosary every day.  Sometimes out necessity I get to it late, but I try to stay true to a schedule.  I have at times fell half asleep while praying the rosary and I am pretty sure gibberish emitted from my mouth, but the intent was there.  I believe the rosary is a very powerful prayer and will change you and all those that pray the rosary with you in unison with the whole world.  Keep in mind that God chose Mary as a sacred vessel of holiness, to carry the Christ Child.  We honor her as the choice above all.  Hopefully, all will adopt the rosary and the special tribute we give to Her, the Mother of the Savior Child.

 

END  

Mary Christmas to all

I thought about not posting today as it is Christmas.  There isn't much that I can say about the Holy Day that hasn't already been said.

I went to midnight mass last eve./morning.  My intent was to sleep late.  Don't you know I woke up anyway.

I did some cooking, eating, laying around and watching a bunch of Christmas shows.  My kind of day.

As I write this there is a blizzard warning up so I guess I will recycle this day and do it all over again tomorrow.  I did get the snow shovel out and ready.  I don't really want to shovel snow...maybe it will skip me and visit thee.

I wish everyone a blessed, Holy, Mary Christmas.  If it had not been for Mary submitting to the will of God there would not have been a "Merry Christmas."

 

 

END

CHRISTMAS EVE

It's Monday, the day before Christmas and not Christmas Eve.  I am starting this post early as I will be out on Christmas Eve.  I will be at the Midnight Mass-if I can find a place to park.

We will not have snow for Christmas.  We have the promise of blizzard-like conditions on Tuesday eve. and on on Wednesday.  We may have up to eight inches of snow.  If so, I will not be going to church on Wednesday.  I guess I will have to get the snow shovel out...sigh.

I made a big pot of vegetable stew with leftover chicken and veggies.  It turned out well and it is good if you are watching your weight.  Lots of fat-free or low-fat soup and boiled eggs.  Tomorrow will be a guilt free day-yum.

I just go my utility bill in the mail.  It was $129. 45. for everything.  Gas, electric, sewer and water, school tax and miscellaneous.  I thought it would be higher as I have been , running the furnace a lot.  Yes, insulation, a closed front porch(foyer) and closed back porch make a big difference in your bills.  Now you know why I stay right where I am.

While it is bright and sunny out today there is a cool wind snaking and slithering about... Sssss! The weather is about to change; I feel it in my arm.

For anyone who prays the rosary; Today, on Monday, we pray the Joyful Mysteries.  It is so appropriate for the day as it is the mysteries of the annunciation-the announcement to Mary that she will deliver the Christ Child, of the visitation to Elizabeth that  she is also is carrying a special child(John, the Baptist)in her old age, the birth of  Jesus in a manger, the presentation and finding of Jesus in the temple.  Very timely on Christmas Eve.

END

P. S.  The wind chill is dropping and so is the temperature.

What is prayer?

And the winner is...Mother Nature.  Father S. came to mass in a cable knit turtleneck sweater.  I noticed that he kept it on under his vestments.  Smart fella.

Yes, it was cold.  The wind was bitter and sliced through whatever you were wearing.  And I saw people without jackets, with sleeves rolled up so that they could show off their tattoos.  Dumber than rocks.

When I went into church there were a few puddles in the parking lot.  When I came out the puddles had frozen.  On the way to get my hair cut I saw a big tree down.  I don't know when it came down, but it was a big tree.  The wind stayed strong, whipped up by the hand of Mother Nature, and she wasn't just making frosting for the cake.

The other day as I was going to mass a women came riding up on a bicycle, went into the back door and a few moments later came right out with a bag the had been left for the food pantry.  I wondered if I should have said something or told someone.  I thought about it and decided that she indeed looked poor and probably needed whatever food stuffs that was in the bag.  So I let it pass because that is what the church is all about,; prayer and action and assisting those in need.  Usually we tend not to see the poor, but donate and think that we are doing "good."  I think that is only a small part of what Christ was trying to teach us.  We are such slow learners. 

I was thinking about prayer.  I wonder if we or I, really know how to pray.  We know all the correct words and formulas, attend our churches and hopefully live good Christian lives...but do I really, really know how to pray?
 
I give it my best effort according to what I know, feel, and have been taught, but it may  not be my very best.  My mind is always full of thoughts and distractions, flitering in and out, and taking me away from my intent.  To pray is to commune with God.  To speak with God on a higher level with true love and devotion.  I wish that I could make my mind and heart blank like a clean slate and fill myself with the Holy Spirit.

I know in the literal and intelligent sense that we are a portion, and yet a wholeness of God, and that He resides within, but I do wish that I understood more fully of what prayer is and how to pray in a more complete and deepness.  I wonder if I will ever feel the completeness I search for; Maybe not in this life.

Oh, you probably think that I have fell of the deep end of the pool.  I tend to do that.  That's how we learn to swim in the ebbs and flows or our spiritual souls.  We (I) am ever searching.  We all are.  Sink or swim or do the doggie paddle.  I guess I do the doggie paddle and try to stay afloat.

The weather prognosticators were saying that we were going to have a mild winter.  We are just getting into the winter season and they just may be proved wrong.  It's any one's guess...including the weatherman.

The Apostles asked Jesus-Master-how they were to pray and he told them to pray thus:

OUR FATHER

WHO ART IN HEAVEN

HALLOWED

BY THY NAME

THYE KINGDOM COME

THY WILL BE DONE

ON EARTH

AS IT IS IN HEAVEN

GIVE US THIS DAY

OUR DAILY BREAD

AND FORGIVE US

OUR TRESPASSES

AS WE FORGIVE

THOSE WHO TRESPASS

AGAINST US

AND LEAD US

NOT INTO TEMPTATION

BUT DELIVER US

FROM EVIL.

 

END