The last few months have been such a whirl-wind.  Discovering I have basal cell carcinoma, facing the death of my father-in-law as well as a beloved uncle, and trying to figure out why I'm feeling so tired (most likely due to low iron)...but the sun is shining.  I have a beautiful family and am surrounded by lovely people.  Little E made his first communion in May.  It was extra special because I was his C.C.D. teacher.  Can't wait to teach again this fall. (P.S.  totally got over my fear of teaching. yay!!!)

Will They Continue Walking in Their Faith?

I sang at our church's confirmation ceremony yesterday.  It was a beautiful service.  Monseigneur gave fantastic words of encouragement to the candidates.  Now, the question becomes: "Will each of these students walk in their faith? Or will they stray, viewing confirmation as just another obligation fulfilled in life?"

They need to be encouraged by participating in a church community activity.  For me, it was singing in the choir.  For someone else, it might be reader or eucharistic minister.  I pray each will find his or her path according to God's will.  That is where true happiness resides.

Slow Down the Clock

My son recently said, "Mommy! why do the weeks fly by?  It's just going so fast!!!" It was an odd thing to hear from an elementary-aged kid.

During Father Jack's sermon on Sunday, he unknowingly addressed my son's question.
"I find that if I sit with God each day, it helps slow down my life."  (Can't remember the direct quote, but this is essentially the message.)

Father Jack is so right.  I forced myself out of bed half an hour earlier yesterday, and just sat with the Lord while listening to the birds wake up, one by one.  Eight o'clock came around, and seemed like it should already be ten o'clock!  I enjoyed the entire day, peacefully.

So sit with the Lord each day...you'll feel grounded and will be able to see things much more clearly.

Everyone needs prayer

I feel blessed that, all my life, there was always at least one person praying for me.  Often times, there were more.  Imagine not having anyone to pray for you.  Prayer can lift a person up without them ever knowing you prayed for him or her.  God hears every prayer. 

Sometimes, (more often than not actually), I see people walking or driving past me who look completely defeated.  Even though I don't know their name, I pray for them.  God knows which person I am referring to at that time.  He even knows who I am talking about if I pray later.  "God, remember that young woman in the grocery store who looked like she could barely muster enough strength to push her cart?  Please find her where she is and comfort her."

I don't usually know what the outcome of my prayer is, but I know that God will send his Holy Spirit to that person.  And she doesn't have to open the door to the Holy Spirit.  However!!!!  It's difficult for a person NOT to open that door. And the more people praying for that same person, the louder the knock and the longer the Holy Spirit lingers. 

So you think your prayers are in vain and falling on deaf ears?  Not true!  How about if other people see the same woman and they also pray for her?  If everyone who passed her in the grocery store prayed for her....wow!!! Can you imagine the impact of God's Holy Spirit?

Need prayer?  Know someone who needs prayer?  Send me your first name or their first names.  You don't even need to tell me what's wrong.  It's the prayer part that is important.  Whoever you are, I'll pray for you any day of the week!

"Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you." - Matthew 7:7

the trees are waking up - drivers need to wake up too

That tree over there (outside my window) is waking up.  It already has buds on it.  The tulips in the backyard are coming up too.  The world has so much beauty.  Are y'all missing it?  When you drive to work, are you staring at your cell phone or radio?  Check out the sky, or the way the trees pass you in a neat line.

Speaking of driving, curb your road rage.  We need to remember the road does not belong to us.  I often come up to a car that is trying to turn left onto a busy street.  I stop from my lane, but the oncoming cars (who clearly see what I am doing) do not stop.  It takes 3 seconds to stop.  Another 3 seconds to let that car turn.  If it were YOU, you would appreciate the same courtesy, yes?

"Amen, I say to you, whatever you did for one of these least brothers of Mine, you did for Me."  - Matthew 25:40b

Off to A Good Start

In line with "not being lazy" for lent, I've taken on my next task...I'll be teaching CCD the next 2 weeks while the teacher is away.  This is my chance to see if I've got what it takes to teach.  (I've mulled it over in my head for several years now, but can't seem to muster up the courage.)

Here's the million dollar question, though:  "Who will take the children to the bathroom????"  See, I'm the teacher's aide in that class.  That's a glorified way of saying "she who takes children to potty room!"

"Blessed is the man who perseveres under trial, because when he has stood the test, he will receive the crown of life that God has promised to those who love Him." -James 1:12

Singing is fun

I asked our choir director if I could sing during Lent. (This requires that my son sit with me in the choir pit, so I wasn't sure it would be allowed).  The director said it was fine.  He then commented, "So instead of giving something up for Lent, you've decided to take something up (singing)?"

"No," I replied.  "I decided to give up being LAZY for Lent and start giving of myself by singing."

LOL!

C'mon, that was funny.  You'd better laugh because part of my Lenten offering is to write every day.  So you're stuck with me for at least 39 more days....(pause)....(blink)...(blank stare)...
.
..I see by the traffic reports that there are zero viewers on this blog.  So who am I talking to?!?!?!

"Then he said to them all: 'If anyone would come after me, he must deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow me.  For whoever wants to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for me will save it.'"  -Luke 9:23-24

Today is Ash Wednesday

It's Ash Wednesday.  Are you just giving up chocolate?  Why? How is that preparing you to be closer to Jesus on Good Friday?  How about just doing acts of random kindness during Lent?  That's what our world needs these days.

Got palms?  I learned something new this morning...the palms from LAST year's palm Sunday were burned and will be used as the ashes to be placed on the foreheads of Catholics today.  I did not realize I was supposed to bring my old palms back to the church for recycling. 
"By the sweat of your brow you will eat your food until you return to the ground, since from it you were taken; for dust you are and to dust you will return.” - Genesis 3:19


Got love? By the way, this is a good time to remind ourselves that Jesus went to his death freely.  So, no finger-pointing at other cultures on Good Friday.  Love everyone - it was Jesus' command:
“A new command I give you: Love one another.  As I have loved you, so you must love one another. -John 13:34

Hooray for Coffee!

You may agree that coffee seems to be a guilty pleasure.  I was enlightened by this article by the editors of "Eating Well" Magazine.  Read it!
http://shine.yahoo.com/channel/health/5-health-reasons-to-not-quit-coffee-2460820/

The Floods are Here

It was inevitable that Spring Thaw would bring with it rain...with the rain comes water creeping into the basement.  There's also a leak on the porch.  Thank goodness for shop vacs to suck up the water (we only have so many towels). 

At least the basement windows are now fixed.  A couple of them broke from the weight of the snow.  The cats thought it was their personal in-out door.  Cute. Funny.  But dangerous since there was still sharp glass lingering in the windows.  All fixed now!  So back to the meow-method for the in-out cats.

"O Lord, be gracious to us,we long for you. 
Be our strength every morning, our slavation in time of distress."

-Isaiah 33:2

Dear Blog

Dear Blog,

I am so sorry I have neglected you.  I have not fed you words in more than a year! 

Please forgive me.  I have been sick.  I have been weak.

But you'll be happy to know I have picked up the pieces of my pathetic self, and God made me new.

So here I am....a whole new me!

This morning, I am reveling in the beauty of God's earth.  The spring thaw has finally arrived.  As I stood outside with my morning cup of coffee, I could see the steam rising off the deep snow.  It is going to be 50 degrees today.  Yes, overcast and rainy, but the warm temperatures and the singing birds are what makes this experience so comforting at this time.

The smell of fresh brewed coffee, the sound of a distant train - why would anyone want to leave New England????  It is a fantastic place.  Sure, some of the people are selfish and rude, but we're working on that aren't we New Englanders?

"I will not forget you.  Behold, I have inscribed you on the palms of my hands." - Isaiah 49:15-16 (nasb)

Here's What's Wrong With the World

My good friend, Nancy, was waiting for her mom at the hospital.  Instead of worrying about the situation, she took comfort in working on her bible study (Beth Moore's "Believing God").  A man sitting near her was apparently so disgusted with the fact that my friend had a bible with her, that he got up and moved away.

Were I in that situation, I may have suggested one of the following statements to the man:

1. "A good thing you moved, sir. Apparently, this spirituality stuff is contagious."

2. "Don't worry sir, you have a better chance of catching H1N1 than to be open-minded enough to read the bible yourself."

 3. "Sir, next time you watch the news and wonder 'what's wrong with the world,' remember this moment."

4."Honey, you can move as far away from me as you want, but Jesus is still sitting in your lap waiting for you to acknowledge Him!"

5.  Stick out your hand and scream, "God is who he says he is; God can do what he says he can do; I am who God says I am; I can do all things through Christ, God's word is alive and active in me.  I'm believing God...punk!"

...and that's all I  have to say about that.

ODE to my hot water

So!  I can not seem to convince the world that drinking hot water is good for you.  It can also be very comforting.  That's okay...go your way...I'll go mine...but I'm takin' my hot water with me!  And I'll speak my ode as I walk on...

NOOOOOOOOOOO Love for the Hot Water

Ohhhhhhhhh hot water...you make me smile
though most would say you are not in style

When things get tight and it hurts to sit
you loosen things up, and help me.. um... okay, next!

When my sinuses get clogged, you loosen the phlegm
and out shoots a big snot, the size of a gem

When my chest is congested and I can't breathe
I add you to gin and you aim to please

sro nowh i dlink you with gin 'n honnney
and get so dlunk my fliends think uhlm f-hunny

and now I sleep happily.....zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz

Q & A with God's Flock

I created a Q & A blog today... "Q & A with God's Flock"
The purpose of this blog is to publish Q&A interviews with people of all walks of life who follow God. If you would like to participate in a Q&A to be published on my new blog, please email me. Please include a brief description about yourself.

2 0 1 0

The new year is coming, and so is a new decade.  This past year, my learning was based on Neal Lazano's "Unbound."  It was powerful.  It helped me re-gain control where I hadn't even realized I lost it.  Now, I'm feeling better than ever, praise God.

In 2010, the learning tool begins with Beth Moore's "Believing God."  I think this teaching will help me reach higher rather than to settle.  We shall see...

Forgiveness

I am learning important things about forgiveness.
When I forgive someone, I feel free.

Recently I read the best quote out of a book entitled, "Something More" by Catherine Marshall.  The quote is  

 "he can be as wrong as wrong can be...I will NOT be the judge."

How powerful and freeing!  God is our judge.  We don't need to judge each other.  Instead of grudges, we can use that energy to pray.

Inspirational Music

John Waller's "While I'm Waiting" can be an inspiration in anyone's life.  This complete video was shown in the movie "Fireproof."

Fun in New Hampshire

We had fun in New Hampshire this fall.  I am grateful for the moments I spend with my son. 

Praise God For Everything

We can find thanks in the bad things, as well as the good things.
Things don't happen through our own understanding.  They happen through God's plan and His perfect timing.