Thanking God for Me

Thank you to Judy at A Thankful Woman's Book of Blessings for hosting this great meme! Please click on the graphic on my sidebar to visit Judy's blog to check out more postings and participate with one of your own! 
I am doing this Thankful meme a bit differently this week. Actually a lot differently. Let me explain.

I have been listening to an audio retreat given by Fr. Larry Gillick, SJ, who has done other online retreats with Creighton University.I was excited to see this new one as I enjoy his talks very much. This one is called: The Spiritual Exercises: A confrontation with our shame. An invitation to honor.

The word that popped out at me was - shame. As an incest survivor, shame is something I have lived with most of my life. This retreat definitely called to me.

In the second conference, Fr. Gillick tells us that shame is redeemed by God's mercy. I sort of knew that. I mean, I knew that in my head. My heart hears things differently sometimes.

But Fr. Gillick said something I had never heard before nor had I ever thought of before. He says that each one of us needs to thank God for ourselves. That I need to thank God for ME.

We thank God for all of creation. We thank God for all the gifts He has given us, for our faith, for our family, etc. But what Fr. Larry says here is that we each need to thank God for the gift WE are. For the beauty of OUR created selves.

I never thought of that before. Ever. I mean, I have thanked God for the gift of life, but I do not think I have ever thought of thanking God for me.

Father goes on to tell a story about a time when he acted in a way that he was not proud of, that he was sorry for. He repented, but he says he was not ashamed. He was not ashamed because he knows he is a limited person. That he is limited, but loved. And that God knows all that. God does not want us to be ashamed. After all, He created us. We are all limited but loved.

We as parents know that our babies only sleep, eat, and mess their diapers! We love them even though they are limited, even though they cannot talk yet, cannot walk yet, cannot dress themselves and they wake us up in the middle of the night. We know all of this, and yet we are totally in love with them.

God is totally in love with us. Just as we are.

So this week, I have only one thing I wish to thank God for. For the first time in my life, I am going to thank God for me.

I am going to thank God for creating me, for giving me to the world, for dying on a cross for me. Seems kind of strange. Makes me want to cry. Makes me want to get on my knees and praise God. 
I praise you, so wonderfully you made me; wonderful are your works! (Ps 139:14)
So tell me, I am dying to know. Am I alone? Have you ever thanked God for YOU?

Attending to God's Love

I love reading Thomas Merton. I especially love his journals. He writes about his life, his thoughts, his prayer, his spiritual journey. Sometimes they read like a diary and sometimes they read like a reflection or a prayer. They always seem honest and from his heart.
A few years ago, when I first read The Sign of Jonas, his first journal, I found this quote that I loved so much, I still have a sticky note on that page:
"It seems to me the most absurd thing in the world to be upset because I am weak and distracted and blind and constantly make mistakes! What else do I expect? Does God love me any less because I can't make myself a saint by my own power and in my own way? He loves me more because I am so clumsy and helpless without Him - and underneath what I am He sees me as I will one day be by His pure gift and that pleases Him - and therefore it pleases me and I attend to His great love which is my joy."
I think I love this quote so much because I have been fighting perfectionism for years. I get upset when I am not perfect or I make mistakes. And to think that Thomas Merton had these same thoughts. Somehow it makes me feel better.
And he is, of course, right when he says that God does not love us any less when we make mistakes. God knows our hearts. God knows who we are and who He created us to be.
Why am I so worried about God not loving me any more when I screw up?
If I could only learn to see myself as God sees me, I would have less fear. Fewer insecurities.
I cannot make myself a Saint. I cannot earn my salvation. It is God's work. I just need to trust and surrender to God and, as Merton said, "attend to His great love."
1st published in Prayerful Morsels, Sept. 25, 2009

Music Monday - My Redeemer Lives

This Music Monday meme is hosted by Shawntele at Saved By Grace. Join in by clicking on the Music Monday image in my sidebar. This is a great way to share your favorite songs and learn some new ones!
The song I chose this week is My Redeemer Lives, sung by Nicole Mullen. I first heard her sing this song at a Women of Faith conference last year. It is a moving and inspiring song, about the different ways Jesus is present in our lives and why we know He lives. This video is beautiful, too. Hope you enjoy!

Choosing Christ

"For whoever is not against us is for us." (Mark 9:40)

Sometimes I hear this line more as a question that Jesus is asking me - Are you for me or against me? It is not an accusing question, but one that asks me to make that commitment over and over again. Do I choose Christ? Do I choose Christ only when it is easy or all the time?

I often think of that girl who was killed in the Columbine High School shootings. She refused to deny Jesus. Would I have had enough courage to do that? Or enough faith?

How about Peter? He denied Jesus 3 times. But later, after the resurrection, Jesus asked Peter 3 times - Do you love me? And Jesus heard what he already knew. Because he knows hearts, he knew Peter loved him.

Lord Jesus, help me to choose you every day, even when it is difficult. Even when it means sacrifice. Even when it hurts. Give me the graces and the love to choose you always. And for the times I do not choose you, forgive me Lord. For I know you know my heart. You know I love you, Lord. Amen.

image source

Sunday Snippets - A Catholic Carnival Sept 27

This is the weekly Catholic Carnival! Be sure to visit RAnn at This That and The Other Thing and check out some posts from other bloggers participating in Sunday Snippets this week. Why not join us and share a blog post or two from last week?
Here are my contributions:

God is My Rest and My Refuge
 
Sabbath Moments

Sabbath Moments - Sept 26

We need to take time with God. Time to Just Be. Time to rest and refuel. Time to adore. I invite you to share your Sabbath moment(s) here on Saturday. Be sure to sign into Mr. Linky below. If you don't have a blog, share about it in a comment! Hope you will join us! 

This week has been a crazy week. Work at the parish office was busy. My rheumatoid arthritis was flaring up. Many stresses threatening to throw me off kilter. I found myself skipping breaks and prayer time, making it worse.
One day I decided I needed a break. I needed a Sabbath moment. I needed prayer time. So I left the office for a real lunch break. Then I took some time to pray, and finished my hour reading a Christian fiction book. I felt so refreshed, so renewed.
After parking my car, I was walking across the parking lot to my office. I saw some pretty little flowers of many colors and some flowering bushes near the parish hall. I went over to look at them. I took my time among the flowers. I saw some butterflies which I just love to see! Then I saw the statue of St. Francis there and took this photo.

I felt some peace. And I felt close to God as I thanked him for the gifts of nature, of all creation. (Funny how, after rest and prayer, I noticed all the flowers that have been there all week!)

I was ready to go back to work. I felt like I could conquer the world. That little time resting with God was what I needed.
How about you? Did you find some time to rest with God? Did you find some Sabbath moments in your week?

Touch of Our Savior's Hand - Sept.25

Karinann hosts Touch of Our Savior's Hand every Friday. This meme helps me to be more aware of how and where and when I experience God every week. If you wish to participate or check out other posts, visit Karinann at Blessings For the Day.

My nudges from the Lord this week all came from the written word, aimed right for my heart:

1. I know I am repeating myself here, but I just have to give this example. I posted one day this week about a post I had read about lectio divina and I was so moved by the psalm that was quoted there (62). I am still praying the psalm, especially the words the Lord gave me - rest & refuge. Truly the Savior is touching me with these words.

2. I wrote on my survivor blog about the fear I had about my talk today for a women's group about my book and abuse. I received such beautiful encouragement, I knew Jesus was loving me through these people.

3. Part of my fear about my talk was fear of rejection, certainly not an uncommon way for survivors to feel. One of the commenters on my post reminded me that Jesus had also been rejected. Later I was reading some of Merton (The Sign of Jonas) and he was writing about Jesus being rejected. He also said that "we expect too much of ourselves when we should be expecting everything from God upon Whom we utterly depend."
I needed that reminder! I always think I need to do it all myself and when I fail, I beat up on myself so much. All I need to do is hand it over to God, my Rest and Refuge. 
So in what way(s) did Jesus touch you this week?

God is My Rest and My Refuge

I discovered a beautiful post written by Jean Wise on her blog Healthy Spirituality. She invites us to join her once a week for lectio divina as she shares her own meditation and reflection. The scripture verse this week was from Psalm 62: 
My soul, be at rest in God alone, from whom comes my hope. God alone is my rock and my salvation; my secure height, I shall not fall. My safety and glory are with God, my strong rock and refuge. Trust God at all times, my people! Pour out your hearts to God our refuge! (Psalm 62:6-9 NAB)

The words rest & refuge were the words given to me in prayer. These two words stayed with me all this week. I woke up thinking about them. I went to bed thinking about them. And when I had a moment of silence, I prayed with them. And I thanked God for them.
Rest. God knows I need rest. Not just physical rest, though I need that, too. But emotional rest. I have been going, going, going, since writing my book. Up and down emotionally. And I have very little free time. What I most want to do is to write about God and to pray and to read. That is one of the reasons I started my Simple Reflections blog - to be able to ponder the Word of God and to reflect on it and share it. I have enjoyed it. It brings me peace.
Which is a form of rest, is it not? O Lord, what do you want me to do? Help me find rest. Perhaps I will find rest in You.
Refuge. I have been looking for refuge all of my life. From a very young age, as an incest survivor, I have needed to find safe places. I have needed to find refuge.
But I have discovered that true Refuge is not a place. It is a Person. It is with God.
It is knowing I am loved by God with an everlasting love. It is knowing I am being held by God, even as I rest within Him, within his Heart.
Help me to trust You Lord, help me to rest in You alone.
My God, my Rest and my Refuge. 

image source - a wildlife refuge

Thankful for Blessings - Sept 23

Thank you to Judy at A Thankful Woman's Book of Blessings for hosting this great meme! Please click on the graphic on my sidebar to visit Judy's blog to check out more postings and participate with one of your own! 
I am thankful for:
1. My weekend with my son and his wife, and my grandson. Enjoyed a relaxing time watching football and learning that my 10 year old grandson knows more about ipods than I do!
2. My new online Spanish course  - I am enjoying it and learning a lot! Que bueno!
3. My husband - for his sense of humor and his unconditional love and acceptance of me as I am
4. My blogging friends who provide community and support and prayers.
5. Memes like this one that help me remember the many gifts God has given me and gives me everyday!
What are YOU thankful for?

Music Monday - Jesus is All We Need

This Music Monday meme is hosted by Shawntele at Saved By Grace. Join in by clicking on the Music Monday image in my sidebar.

Along with the song that I posted on Friday, I heard this Mandisa song on same CD (True Beauty) It is called Voice of a Savior and it is a beautiful song about Jesus and how we need to fill a void in our lives and Jesus is enough for us. We do not need anything else. Amen to that. Hope you enjoy this song and the video too!

Welcome the Child

"Whoever receives one child such as this in my name, receives me: and whoever receives me, receives not me but the One who sent me." (Mark 9:37)

Dear Lord, help me to remember to see you in all people I meet, including the humble and the small. Help me to become more like a child, to be open and to love unconditionally. Help me to welcome all in your name. Amen.

image source

Sunday Snippets - Catholic Carnival Sept 20

This is the weekly Catholic Carnival! Be sure to visit RAnn at This That and The Other Thing and check out some posts from other bloggers participating in Sunday Snippets this week. Why not join us and share a blog post or two from last week?
Here are my contributions:

God With Us

(at my new blog)

Jesus Speaks to Our Hearts

Sabbath Moments - Fun with Dolphins

We need to take time with God. Quality time for sure. Time to Just Be. Time to rest and refuel. Time to adore. 
If you would like to share your Sabbath moment(s), please copy my Sabbath Moments button into your post. Then come back here and sign into Mr. Linky below. If you don't have a blog, share about it in a comment! Hope you will join us! God bless. 
This week was horrendous. Really horrendous. Each work day was crazy. I would come home and eat dinner and sit in my chair in the living room, staring at the tv without watching it. And then fall asleep, right there in the chair. I was bone tired.
I needed a Sabbath moment in the worst way.
Today, after running some errands, my hubby and I went out to lunch at the beach. I know how the beach can help me relax. We went to a restaurant right on the beach and sat at a table near the sliding glass doors that were open, letting in a cool breeze. As we sat there, I could feel the tension leave my body.
Suddenly we spotted three dolphins. They were swimming back and forth and in circles and jumping up pretty far out of the water. They slapped the water with their tails and chased each other around. For close to a half hour or more, we watched this show put on by the dolphins. I laughed and laughed. And as the dolphins swam away, their antics over, I thanked the Lord for this unexpected moment of joy and beauty. This moment of peace. I left, feeling renewed, feeling like a different person.
Sometimes we look for Sabbath moments and sometimes they find us!

I Believe in Mercy

Here is some of what I believe about God's mercy:
I believe that God is mercy and compassion and love

I believe that we can confess our sins, be forgiven, receive absolution and go to heaven - no matter what we did.

I believe that God forgives us before we even ask for it. And then throws us a party. Look at the Prodigal Son. He made a move toward home and the Father ran down the road to meet him.

I believe that we do not know, in fact cannot know, the state of someone's soul at the time of their death.

I believe that we can not and should not judge the state of someone's soul or relationship with God (and this includes Ted Kennedy.)

I believe that God rejoices when one lost sheep is found.

I believe that we too need to rejoice for every lost sheep that is found by God.

I believe that we need to pray for the salvation of all people.

I believe that we need to pray for conversion of hearts, including our own.

I believe in the worth and dignity of all human beings.

I believe that God loves everybody, and I mean everybody. No exceptions.

This is what I believe. What do you believe? 

Jesus Speaks to Our Hearts

Dear Jesus,

You touch my heart, my life, in so many ways. You fill the empty places, those places that hurt, those places that feel unloved and unworthy. And you always know what I need, even before I know I need it.

Lately I have very much needed your love and closeness. I have needed to feel your protection and caring. I do not think I really knew that until I saw that picture of you with your mother. It just blew me away. I have to keep looking at it. Every time I see it, I have to catch my breath. I am not sure why exactly. What in that picture makes me want to cry?

And then the other day I listened to a song called God Speaking, sung by Mandisa. Oh, my, those words are so beautiful and moving. Again I have to catch my breath when I listen to it.

I had heard Mandisa sing and speak at the Women of Faith conference I went to last month. I am not sure if she sang this song then. If she did, I didn't listen to the words. Now I cannot listen to them enough. They bring tears to my eyes. Between the song and the picture, I have been so emotional this week. And that has caught my attention, so I have to ask, just what are you telling me, Lord? What do you want me to know?

Jesus, I love you.

Normally on Fridays, I participate in the meme hosted by Karinann at Blessings for the Day, called the Touch of the Savior's Hand. She is away this week and I pray she is having a blessed and grace-filled retreat! This post would have fit in that meme too!

Below is the song from Mandisa, along with the words. Hope you enjoy!

Small Successes with Work, Writing and Worry

Our days are filled with "small successes." Let's share them! To participate in this meme or to read other submissions, visit Danielle Bean at Faith and Family.
Here is my list of this week's small successes:
1. I couldn't get anything written on Monday. Not really writer's blog. Just no inspiration. I was tired. Nothing came to my mind or heart to write.
I started to feel a little upset about it and then I discovered I had no internet. Could not have published anything anyway! Was that the Lord's way of telling me that I did not need to feel upset and I should just go to bed and get some extra sleep?!?!? So I went to bed and stopped worrying about it.
2. Went to the dentist last week and had my cap put on my tooth. I wasn't even nervous! (Well, not too much anyway.)
3. Work has been extremely busy this week. I have to admit I got stressed at times, but, by the grace of God, I was able to stay in the moment. I focused on one thing at a time and one person at a time. And I prayed a lot, which is always a good thing.
Your turn! What successes have you had this week?

Thankful for the Blessings in My Life

Thank you to Judy at A Thankful Woman's Book of Blessings for hosting this great meme! Please click on the graphic on my sidebar to visit Judy's blog to check out more postings and participate with one of your own! 
I am thankful for so many things. Here are but a few:
1. My husband - he is my best friend and my soul mate. He fills my life with love and joy. I cannot imagine my life without him.
2. My children and my stepchildren and my grandchildren - they all fill my life with love and laughter. They have blessed me in so many ways.
3. My ministry - I love doing spiritual direction. I feel so privileged and blessed to have been given such a gift. It is so amazing to see how the Spirit works in peoples' lives. Truly an honor to be invited into someone's spiritual journey that way.
4. Books - they fill my life with scripture, prayers, information, news, guidance, inspiration, education, joy and laughter and tears and sadness. And they gave me a way to escape when I was a child.
5. Jesus. Jesus who loves me and carries my burdens and never leaves me. Jesus who is leading us home to our Father. Jesus, I love you.
OK, I could go on and on but it is your turn!!

My Post for Today Moved!

I decided to post my reflection for today - Our Lady of Sorrows - on my new blog, Simple Reflections. Hope you will visit me there!

Music Monday - He Reigns

This Music Monday meme is hosted by Shawntele at Saved By Grace. Join in by clicking on the Music Monday image in my sidebar.

The song I chose is He Reigns, by the Newsboys. This song really moves me (both my heart and my hands as I raise them to the Lord). It inspires me to praise God and to remember we are "all God's children." I added it to my playlist too because I love it so much. Enjoy!

Carrying Our Cross

 

"Whoever wishes to come after me must deny himself,

take up his cross and follow me." (Mk 8:34)

Sometimes I think that I need to carry my Cross perfectly in order to follow Jesus. Then I remember reading that St. Therese said that Jesus fell three times and would we not be willing to fall a hundred times to prove our love for Him?

So perhaps we just need to do what we can. And if we fall, well then, we get up again. Like Jesus did.

Jesus, I want to carry my cross and follow you. Sometimes I become afraid. I complain. And yes, sometimes I even feel sorry for myself.

 Please help me to not worry about being perfect, but help me to carry my cross with love for you. Amen.

image source

Sunday Snippets - A Catholic Carnival Sept 13

This is the weekly Catholic Carnival! Be sure to visit RAnn at This That and The Other Thing and check out some posts from other bloggers participating in Sunday Snippets this week. Why not join us and share a blog post or two from last week?
Here are my contributions:

My Sunday Reflection from last week: Streams Burst Forth 

Reflection on a Favorite Quote: Late Have I Loved You 

Announcing my new blog called Simple Reflections: New Blog 

And I share some of my: Sabbath Moments

Sabbath Moments - Adoration and Rest

I love sharing my Sabbath Moments with you all. This meme helps me to remember the importance of them. Read here for more info or check out Terry Hershey's site here. 

1.I went to Eucharistic Adoration last Saturday morning. What a blessing it is to go to Adoration. It is truly an hour of rest and prayer that helps me to feel closer to Jesus. I prayed and sat in the silence, just looking at Jesus.
2. I read a meditation one day about needing to be sure we take time to rest. Time to Be Still. We cannot give to God or to others if we are running on empty.
On Labor Day, I took the day off from labor. Besides not going to work, I totally relaxed at home. I just hang out with my hubby and really experienced a restful day. In the afternoon, we went out for an ice cream cone which is something we rarely do, but it was spontaneous and fun and refreshing! Later, I was better able to read scripture and write my reflections because I had taken time to Just Be. 
If you would like to share your Sabbath moment(s), please copy my Sabbath Moments button into your post. Then come back here and sign into Mr. Linky below. If you don't have a blog, share about it in a comment! Hope you will join us! God bless.

Touch of Our Savior's Hand - September 11

Karinann hosts Touch of Our Savior's Hand every Friday. This meme helps me to be more aware of how and where and when I experience God every week. If you wish to participate or check out other posts, visit Karinann at Blessings For the Day.

1. Last weekend, we attended the wedding of the daughter of long time friends of ours. The father-daughter dance was so emotional for both of them, that many of us watching got a bit weepy ourselves. I could see the love and tenderness in the father's eyes as he looked at his daughter. And right away I thought of the love and tenderness that our Father in heaven has for each of us. Thank you, Lord.

2. I watched an opera singer sing Ave Maria the other night on tv and it was so beautiful, I thought I must be listening to an angel. Tears just rolled down my cheeks. I think talent like that is a pure gift from God. We give glory and praise to God when we use the gifts He gives us.

3. I started a new blog this week. I really didn't need to add something to my to-do list, but I have been feeling a strong desire to share some reflections on prayerful quotes or daily Mass readings. I was enjoying the ones I wrote for Sundays so much that I wanted to write more. I wanted to create a blog that would be a peaceful place to go to, a place to just read some very simple reflections.

Well, a funny thing happened on my way to doing something I just thought I would enjoy doing. I discovered that, in order to write reflections on the daily readings, I needed to be sure to READ the daily readings. I needed to read and meditate and spend time with the Word of God and pray that I will be inspired.
Of course, this is giving me more time in prayer and more time with scripture, which is something I have been saying for ages that I needed to do. So, rather than just adding to an already long to-do list, I am spending more time with God. Quality time I might add.
You know, I think God gets "sneaky" sometimes.

Thankful for Blessings - Sept 9

Thank you to Judy at A Thankful Woman's Book of Blessings for hosting this great meme! Please click on the graphic on my sidebar to visit Judy's blog to check out more postings and participate with one of your own! 

I am thankful for:
1. All my friends. I am especially thankful this week for being able to attend the wedding of the daughter of friends we have known for years. I think I have known the bride since she was in kindergarten! What a blessing to witness her joy.
2. My Catholic faith. I am indeed blessed to be a convert to the Catholic Church. I love our feast days and yesterday was the Nativity of the Blessed Virgin Mary.What a beautiful reminder of God's gifts to us.
3. My husband's love of cooking. I am always thankful for my husband, of course, but today I want to point out the fact that he is one of the best cooks I know! And he cooks for me everyday. (I think I might be spoiled)
4. Holiday weekends. I had 4 days off and just the right mix of busy-ness and relaxing. Weather was beautiful, even got treated to a rain shower, which I love to watch.
5. Chocolate. A couple of weeks ago I posted about being "successful" in crossing m&m's off the grocery list. I did not do so last week. After all, a girl needs a treat once in a while.
God bless you all!

New Blog

I have made a few changes. First, I deleted my websites. They took up valuable time and cost money. Blogs are free. Blogs are more fun.
With blogs, we meet people. Make new friends. Support each other. Become part of a community.
So naturally, feeling the way that I do, my other change is - I started a new blog. It is not replacing this one. I wanted to do some simple reflections on a regular basis and thought putting it all on one blog would be better.
In the meantime, I did post my first reflection over there if you wish to check it out. The name of the blog is Simple Reflections. Makes sense, doesn't it? I really do intend them to be simple ones. A quote and a thought and/or a picture or a song. Not necessarily every day. Just when the Spirit moves me.
God bless you all!

Late Have I Loved You

One of my favorite quotes:
Late have I loved you, O Beauty, ever ancient, ever new, late have I loved you! You were within me, but I was outside, and it was there that I searched for you...You called, you shouted, and you broke through my deafness...You flashed, you shone, and you dispelled my blindness...I have tasted you, now I hunger and thirst for more. - St. Augustine

I love this quote because it sounds so much like my own conversion story. God was within me, and I never knew.
Oh, I knew Him when I was a little girl, in a little girl way, but sometime in my teens I lost him.
I thought I was outside of God. I searched and I searched, deaf and blind to God's presence, unaware that I was searching in answer to some call deep within.
I did not know that all through the tough times, God did indeed carry me.
I did not know that all through my life, God loved me and watched over me, even when I didn't know him.
I did not know that when I searched, it meant that God had found me.
God laughed with me, cried with me, counted the hairs on my head, and knew my heart. But I didn't see Him. I didn't know Him. I didn't hear His knock.
But God is faithful. God is patient.
And one day, God broke through my deafness and blindness and self-reliance and stubborn pride, and I suddenly knew Him. I heard His voice. I saw His presence in my life. And I recognized Him.
And now I hunger and thirst for him, more and more.
Late have I loved you, O Beauty, ever ancient, ever new... late, but not too late. It is never too late.
Our God never gives up on us even when we give up on ourselves. Our God is a God of second chances. Our God is a God of endless mercy and compassion. He calls and He shouts and He breaks through our deafness.
And He rejoices when we come home.
1st published in Prayerful Morsels

Go Light Your World

This Music Monday meme is hosted by Shawntele at Saved By Grace. Join in by clicking on the Music Monday image in my sidebar.
I love this song. It reminds me that I need to be one who brings Jesus' light to others. Let us all be a light for someone today!

Streams Burst Forth

Streams will burst forth in the desert and rivers in the steppe. (Isaiah 35:6b)

I have always loved this line from Isaiah. It is one that gives me hope. My childhood was like a desert and the healing touch of God has brought streams of living water to my life, to my mind, and to my heart.

O Lord, may you always help us to see the streams of living water in our lives. Especially when we are in our desert times and our prayer life is dry, our problems are many and our worries weigh us down. Remind us that we need not be afraid, for you are with us always. Amen.

image source

Sunday Snippets - A Catholic Carnival Sept. 6

This is the weekly Catholic Carnival! Be sure to visit RAnn at This That and The Other Thing and check out others participating in Sunday Snippets this week. Why not join us and share a blog post or two from last week?

Wait for the Lord

Trust in God (A photo)

Sabbath Moments - Refreshed by Nature

Hope you enjoy my posts. I am looking forward to looking at your contributions! Have a blessed week.

Sabbath Moments - Refreshed by Nature

When writing and sharing about Sabbath moments, I often use that phrase - a time to be. This past week, everything I opened up to read, there was the phrase - Just be. More confirmation I guess that I need to take the time to do this. Sometimes, the time is just a minute or two, but it can change my day and my attitude!

1 - Work was very busy this week so I had no chance for any kind of break during the days I worked. At least 2 of the evenings, I made sure I had some quiet time in my bedroom, reading or praying or just lying on the bed, resting.
2 - Most days in Florida these days are hot and humid or raining. One morning, it was dry and almost cool. I put the top down on my VW bug and drove to work singing Christian songs as loud as I could! I felt free and happy and I just loved singing to Jesus!
3 - You may have noticed that I most often enjoy God in nature. There are 2 small lakes in the area where I live. I drive by one of them every day on the way home from work. One morning this week, there were 3 ducks waddling along the side of the road. I stopped the car and watched them for a few minutes. I love watching ducks and I felt so relaxed as I giggled at their waddles and their "quacking." It really made my day!
As a side note - On the way home that same day, I drove by the lake and I practically did a double-take! There were no ducks there. Instead there was an alligator, swimming in the middle of the lake! It was pretty small, I am not sure if it was a baby or just a small gator. I found myself praying that the ducks were OK. Sure enough, the next morning, the ducks were there, waddling around. No gator in sight.

If you would like to share your Sabbath moment(s), please copy my Sabbath Moments button into your post. Then come back here and sign into Mr. Linky below. If you don't have a blog, share about it in a comment! Hope you will join us! God bless.

Trust in God

Here is a picture of the sign I posted
about in Touch of Our Savior's Hand!

Touch of Our Savior's Hand - Sept. 4

Karinann hosts Touch of Our Savior's Hand every Friday. This meme helps me to be more aware of how and where and when I experience God every week. If you wish to participate or check out other posts, visit Karinann at Blessings For the Day.

My son and his wife recently gave me a sign to hang up outside. My husband hung it up on the porch railing and now when I come home from work everyday, I see the sign very clearly as I park the car. It greets me with the words - You can trust me. Love, God.
Considering trust is a major issue for me, this message is one I need very much!! And to see it every day, coming home, tired after a busy day at work, it is a beautiful reminder of God's love and faithfulness.
I feel like Jesus is saying to me, isn't it time to let go and trust in Me?

As Deer to Me as Cupcakes Award

Thanks to Karinann at Blessings for the Day for awarding those on her blogroll this award! I love the name and the button!! Be sure to go visit her blogs - Blessings for the Day and also Daughter of the King.
If you are on my blog list on this blog or my survivor blog, please accept this award from me! And thank you for your blogs and your support! And your encouraging comments! God bless.

Small Success in Dealing with Stress

Our days are filled with "small successes." Let's share them! To participate in this meme or to read other submissions, visit Danielle Bean at Faith & Family.
Here is my list of this week's small successes:
1. This week at work has been very busy with a co-worker on vacation. I have managed to keep my cool and not stress out TOO much!
2. Knowing there would be more work and more stress this week, I have managed to go to bed at a decent hour. I am a night owl and going to bed early does not happen very often.
3.Some Christian blogs are "closed" on Sundays in order to observe the Lord's Day. I like the idea but must confess I am not very good at it. Most of my writing is done on the weekends. But I am not beating myself up about it. I am trying to reserve Sunday posts for short reflections or prayer based on one of the day's readings. I like doing that.
Last Sunday, I went most of the day without blogging. How about that? And by trying to observe some Sabbath moments throughout the week, I am doing my best to keep my eyes on the Lord.

Thankful for Today's Many Blessings

Here is a verse from one of today's readings (Col 1:3) - "We always give thanks to God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, when we pray for you."
This is a good reminder to thank God every time I pray for someone, regardless of the circumstances. Certainly fits today's meme!
Thank you to Judy at A Thankful Woman's Book of Blessings for hosting! Please visit her blog to check out more postings and participate as well!
Here is a sampling of what I am thankful for today:

1. I am thankful for my job. I work as a parish secretary at a Catholic church. It is a blessing to be able to work at a church. I just feel so grateful for this job
2. I am thankful to be living in Florida where the sun is almost always shining and there are beautiful beaches galore!
3. I am thankful that my son is an expert about computers and the internet. He gave me good advice last night. (I know I am getting old, I go to my son for advice instead of the other way around! Of course, when it comes to computers, he has always known more than me anyway, ever since he was about 11 or 12!)
4. I am thankful for rain showers and wildlife and roses in my garden (I saw a new one blooming today!)
5. I am thankful for all of my family and friends, who all bring light to my days.