Blessed Are We

"Blessed are you..." (Mt 5:11)

God's thoughts are not our thoughts. That is certainly brought home to us when we read the Beatitudes. I mean, Blessed are the poor in spirit .... Blessed are those who mourn...

Really?

In the secular world, we tend to measure success by wealth, awards, fame, possessions. In Jesus' mind and thoughts and words, it is quite different.

I have to admit though, that I have experienced some of these to be true.

Blessed are those who mourn ... not only myself but others I have spoken to have experienced great comfort when in mourning. There has been no doubt in our minds that God was there, carrying us through the pain.

Blessed are the clean of heart ... when we put God first in our lives, do we not "see" Him more often? Sometimes it is in nature, or in another person, or in one of those "nudges" from the Holy Spirit.

And lately I have been thinking a lot about that last one - Blessed are you when they insult you and persecute you because of me...We find this to be true in the Pro Life movement, do we not? Are we not insulted and persecuted because of our beliefs? And do we really want it any other way?

I mean, we MUST be on the right track when you consider all the forces trying to work against us? Right?

For a long time, I did not rejoice over this, but I am beginning to think differently. I am trying to think as a daughter of God, not a daughter of this world ... this world of accolades, pats on the back, everyone agreeing with me all of the time...

It sure isn't easy, but whoever said that it was supposed to be?

Dear Jesus, help me. I spend a lot of time on my knees, my face in the dirt, begging forgiveness, trying to find you or hear your voice, begging for help and wisdom. Please, Jesus, help me to remember that this is a good place to be, even if it does not feel good by the world's standards. Even if others do not understand. Just stay with me, Lord, when I am in the pit and not trusting. Please do not let go of me. Amen.
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Sunday Snippets - January 30

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 for this week:
My Friend Francis
Who Do We Belong to?

Sabbath Moments - Rain, Rest & Nudges

Sabbath moments are the moments we rest in God, when we take time to just Be with God rather than Do. Sabbath moments are also those times when we live in the moment and find the holy in the ordinary. I invite you to share your Sabbath moment(s) here on Saturdays. Be sure to sign into Mr. Linky below. If you don't have a blog, please share about it in a comment!
Some of my sabbath moments this week:
1. Watching the rain - I love watching the rain, as many of you probably know by now. So peaceful, so pretty, so soothing. Even powerful thunderstorms, while frightening at times, are also awe-inspiring.
We had such a storm the other evening, pretty infrequent in Florida during the winter season. We were under tornado watch and the wind was quite fierce. The rain was swirling around in the wind, rather than just falling straight down. It was eerie and pretty at the same time.
God sure paints pretty pictures.
2. I had the sudden urge to call someone the other day. Turns out she had been crying, feeling very sad and needing someone to talk to. We both knew it must have been the Holy Spirit nudging me to call. Have you had any nudges lately?
3. Sitting with my husband, television on, laptop in my lap, being totally lazy on a Friday afternoon, writing and watching and laughing with my best friend.
Thank you, Lord, for these Sabbath moments!

Thankful for Blessings - January 26

I love Wednesdays because it is the day I can join my friend, Judy, in this thankful meme at her inspiring blog, A Thankful Woman's Book of Blessings. In this meme we give thanks for the five things we are most thankful for this past week and then link to Judy's blog. Thank you, Judy, for helping me keep an attitude of gratitude!
Some of my blessings this week -
1. My husband and I enjoyed one of our Christmas gifts this weekend! We received tickets from some of our children to a live production of South Pacific! I had seen the movie but not the play and it was awesome! The talent, the voices! I was truly thankful for this thoughtful gift.
2. When you get a scare like we did when my hubby went into the hospital, you are reminded of what is really most important in your life and you learn to appreciate every moment. I have not taken one moment with my husband for granted and I am so grateful that he is doing well and I thank the Lord for each new day.
3. I feel so blessed to be a lector at our church. To be able to proclaim the Word, to minister in this way is a blessing and a joy for me.
4. I am so grateful for my faith. I am so thankful that I was led to the Catholic Church. It is here in His Church, that I have found Jesus.
5. I am so grateful for my children and grandchildren. Here is an adorable picture of my youngest grandbaby!! He is 7 months old now! Where does time go?

My Friend Francis

Today is St. Francis de Sales Feast Day. I am late in writing this because I wasn't sure of what I wanted to say.

I posted an article in my column at Ft. Myers Catholicism Examiner. It was mostly biographical however. It was more from my head than from my heart.

Just the facts, ma'am.

Well, I need to write more than facts because I have grown to really like St. Francis de Sales. I have felt drawn to him for a good 6 months now. When Karinann at Daughter of the King, picked out St. Francis to be my patron saint for this liturgical year, I was just thrilled!

Must be a reason for all of this, don't you think? I do.

Well, he is patron saint of writers and spiritual directors. I am both of those, praise God.

He writes so well and really gets to the heart of the matter without getting too high falutin', if you know what I mean.

This is one of my favorite prayers from him:

Lord, I am Yours, and I must belong to no one but You.
My soul is Yours, and must live only by You.
My will is Yours, and must love only for You.
I must love You as my first cause, since I am from You.
I must love You as my end and rest, since I am for You.
I must love You more than my own being, since my being subsists by You.
I must love You more than myself, since I am all Yours and all in You. Amen.

from "Treatise on the Love of God"

I wrote a reflection on Sunday called - Who Do We Belong To?  And the main point was that we belong to Jesus. As St. Francis wrote, he is our "end and our rest."

So looking at that prayer he wrote, I would guess St. Francis must have helped me with my reflection, don't you think?

I really have nothing eloquent to say. All I can say, I have said, except for this:

I love you, St. Francis. Thanks for being there and for helping me in my writing and spiritual direction.

Thank you for helping me to put my thoughts and feelings into words. And for being my friend. Amen.

Who Do We Belong To?

...the people who sit in darkness have seen a great light, on those dwelling in a land overshadowed by death light has arisen. Matthew 4:16

Jesus said to them, “Come after me, and I will make you fishers of men.” At once they left their nets and followed him. Matthew 4:19-20

Jesus is our light.

In Jesus' name we fish. Not in our own name, or in the name of some beloved priest or author. Not in the name of a parish, or the name of a bishop.

We fish in the name of Christ. We keep our eyes focused on the Lamb.

We spend time with Jesus. We worship Him. And then we go and we bring His Light to others. So we too can be fishers of people.

We Catholics seem to argue with each other lately about many things. Yes, some of us are more conservative, more old-fashioned. Some of us are more liberal, more modern.

Nothing wrong with being different. In fact, we need to love and respect our differences. We are each called to walk our own path to God. We are each of us unique.

But when we start judging each other too harshly, or argue too loudly, perhaps we need to stop and ask ourselves: Who do we have in common? Who do we belong to? Who is our Light, our Lamb, our Lord?

Jesus, you are my Lord and my God. When I start to think my way is the only way, help me to remember that I belong to You. And only You. Jesus, You are the Lord of my life. 

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Sunday Snippets - January 23

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 for this week:
I Want to Know My Lord
Sabbath Moments - Finding Sabbath Time

Sabbath Moments - Silence & Solitude

Sabbath moments are the moments we rest in God, when we take time to just Be with God rather than Do. Sabbath moments are also those times when we live in the moment and find the holy in the ordinary. I invite you to share your Sabbath moment(s) here on Saturdays. Be sure to sign into Mr. Linky below. If you don't have a blog, please share about it in a comment!
Some of my sabbath moments this week:
1. Last weekend my husband and I went on retreat with the diaconate community. It was a beautiful peaceful time. Mass daily and liturgy of the hours twice a day and a holy hour and some silent time.
2. I so enjoyed the silent times when on retreat. Every evening this week I made an extra special effort to spend some time alone to just sit in silence and listen. I work 10 hour days so it is difficult to find that solitude and silence, but it is so needed and oh, so worth it to spend time with the Lord, just listening.
3. This week I had my Remicade infusion for RA and it was rather quiet there as well. I had a nice view out the window and I spent some of the time reading meditations.
Hope you all have a blessed week full of Sabbath moments with our Lord!!

Thankful for Blessings - Double Rainbows and Retreats

I love Wednesdays because it is the day I can join my friend, Judy, in this thankful meme at her inspiring blog, A Thankful Woman's Book of Blessings. In this meme we give thanks for the five things we are most thankful for this past week and then link to Judy's blog. Thank you, Judy, for helping me keep an attitude of gratitude!
Some of my blessings this week -
1. My husband and I went on a weekend retreat with the diaconate community in our diocese. The retreat master was Father Andrew Apostoli and he was just awesome! And I had some quiet time for prayer and reflection which I really needed.
2. One day on my way home from work, I saw one of the most beautiful double rainbows I have ever seen! It was even mentioned on the local news! The colors were so bright and vibrant. It was gorgeous and gave me goose-bumps!
3. Last night I saw a full moon peeking out through a cloudy sky as I drove home from work. As if driving home isn't a joy in itself, I have seen some really beautiful skies lately!
4. My patron saint for this year - St. Francis de Sales, whose feast day is next week. He is the patron saint of writers and he was a spiritual director so I am feeling more and more drawn to him. (By the way, a blogging buddy, Karinann, chose him to be my patron saint. Thank you Karinann!)
5. Quiet peaceful evenings, late at night, my neighborhood is quiet, I am sitting in my favorite chair, reading or writing or praying. And drinking ice coffee. Heaven. Thank you, Lord.

I Want to Know My Lord

"I did not know him, but the one who sent me to baptize with water told me, 'On whomever you see the Spirit come down and remain, he is the one who will baptize with the holy Spirit.'
Now I have seen and testified that he is the Son of God." John 1:33-34

I did not know him.
I wonder how often I have missed recognizing God's presence and action in my life. I know... I trust... that the Lord is with me always, but I do not know Him always.
My focus is often too much on me and my worries and my plans and my needs. Jesus can be standing right in front of me, but if I am thinking too much of myself, then I am not seeing Jesus.
Jesus, help me to know you. Help me to recognize you in all things. Help me to put you first in my life. And please give me the words so that I may testify that you are God. Thank you, Lord.

Sunday Snippets - January 16

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 for this week:
We are God's Beloved Children
Thankful for God's Blessings - God's Graces

Sabbath Moments - Finding Sabbath Time

It is time again to share those moments when we notice God's presence, those moments when we take time to just BE with God. Sabbath moments are those times when we find the holy in the ordinary. I invite you to share your Sabbath moment(s) here on Saturdays. Be sure to sign into Mr. Linky below. If you don't have a blog, please share in a comment!

1. All the prayers and support during my husband’s illness have made God’s love visible to us. Each card, each question of concern, each promised prayer, were sabbath moments, moments with the Lord.

2. Eucharistic Adoration – always a Sabbath moment – a very special Sabbath moment.

3. On the phone, talking to my mom, both of us getting sillier by the minute. Laughing til tears run down my cheeks. First really good laugh I have had in days. Joy is the infallible sign of the presence of God - Teilhard de Chardin

4. Busy week, meetings after work. I had to struggle to find some moments of solitude each evening. Prayers and Christian music, always soothing, always inspiring. Silent time. Sabbath time. Thank you, Lord.

Too Cute!

Hi Grammy!! Life is grand!

Thankful for Blessings - God's Graces

Join Judy, a special blogging friend of mine who hosts this thankful meme every Wednesday at her inspiring blog, A Thankful Woman's Book of Blessings. In this meme we give thanks for the five things we are most thankful for this past week and then link to Judy's blog. Thank you, Judy, for this great meme!
Some of my blessings this week -
1. My husband feels much better this week. He had some tests done and we are waiting for the results. I do not "do" waiting very well, but the Lord must be helping me as I am not biting off all my fingernails! Thank you, Lord.
2. Out of the blue - someone offered to take my middle-of-the-night hour of adoration last week so I could get some sleep. So I drove my hubby to his hour of adoration earlier in the evening and it was such a wonderful gift!
3. Cooler weather! It got warm again but cooled off and I just enjoy it so much. Of course, we don't get snow here but I guess I am thankful for that, too.
4. Candles. I lit candles almost every evening during Christmas season and I felt such peace and calm. I love candlelight all year round but Christmas is a special time.
5. Grace. God always gives us the graces to get through the tough times and to see our blessings and to remember to be thankful. A friend of mine says that pouring rain always reminds her of grace as she believes God is always raining graces down upon us. I think she is right. Thank you, Lord.

We Are God's Beloved Children

"This is my beloved Son, with whom I am well pleased." (Matthew 3:17)

Are these the words we hear when we are baptized? Are we also able to hear that God is pleased with us? Does our new identity in Christ help us to listen and hear what God wants to say to us?
I was on retreat once. A five day silent retreat. I was in the chapel one day, praying silently and I heard within my heart these words: "You are my beloved daughter in whom I am well pleased."

I thought that I had imagined it and continued praying. I then noticed that the Bible was open. I went to see what scripture it was open to and there was this reading.

I am surely not perfect. Far from it. But God is not saying that he loves us when we are perfect. He says he is well pleased with us just the way we are. We are His children. His creation. He is our Father.
That is enough to know. In fact, it is everything.
Father in heaven, thank you for your love. Thank you for creating me, your daughter. May I always be mindful of your great love, made known to me through Your Son, Jesus.
Amen.
adapted from a post in old blog Simple Reflections

Sunday Snippets - January 9

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 for this week:
A Downpour of Love
Sabbath Moments: Coming Home

Sabbath Moments - Coming Home

It is a new year! It is time again to share those moments when we notice God's presence, those moments when we take time to just BE with God. Sabbath moments are those times when we find the holy in the ordinary. I invite you to share your Sabbath moment(s) here on Saturdays. Be sure to sign into Mr. Linky below. If you don't have a blog, please share in a comment!
1. I wrote about this moment in my January edition of Prayerful Morsels. Here is an excerpt of the Sabbath moment I experienced this week when my husband came home from the hospital:

Finally Rich came home. He was weak and tired and I fussed over him, which he just hates. At one point, he fell asleep in his favorite chair. And I just watched him sleep, trying not to cry, trying to memorize that moment. 

Have you ever had one of those God moments? Just a brief moment, maybe a nano-second, when time seems to stand still and you just know you are experiencing something holy, something beyond words or even feelings.

I felt so fragile and he looked so fragile and I was thinking that I couldn't love him any more than I did at that moment.

And it was then that I knew - in that moment, God was with us, loving us, holding us together. Carrying us through the rough patches of life.

Love. Loss. Life.

Holy ground.

2. I was driving home from work, the beginnings of the article I wrote about Rich coming home from the hospital were on my mind. Tears were flowing down my cheeks and I rounded a corner and there was one of the most beautiful sunsets I have ever seen. The whole sky was filled with orange clouds. When I drove into my community, people were standing in the road, looking at it and "oohing and ahhhing."
Thank you, Jesus.

Thankful for Blessings - What is Normal?

Join Judy, a special blogging friend of mine who hosts this thankful meme every Wednesday at her inspiring blog, A Thankful Woman's Book of Blessings. In this meme we give thanks for the five things we are most thankful for this past week and then link to Judy's blog. Thank you, Judy, for this great meme!
Some of my blessings this week -
1. Thank you, Lord, for helping my husband improve and come home from the hospital. Our New Year's weekend was a rough one but he is home now. I am still so worried about him but I know you are with us, holding us and loving us.
2. Thank you, Lord, for my blogging buddies who are so supportive and have been praying for us. I have felt so out of touch since my focus has been on my hubby. I am a person who does not like a "normal" routine all the time, but I sure crave it right now!
3. Thank you, Lord, for helping me to be strong and sensible when car shopping last week. The lease was up on my beloved convertible and it would cost too much to buy it out. So I now have a "normal" type of car. Won't you miss me thanking the Lord for convertible weather? I will! But we are cutting corners these days and I am saving some money, praise the Lord.
4. Thank you, Lord, for family and for my children and stepchildren who have been supportive and caring during hubby's hospitalization.
5. Thank you, Lord, for this new year and for helping us grow closer to You.

Bits n' Pieces

Praise God, my hubby is home from the hospital. Thank you all for your prayers. Please keep praying as the cause of his bleeding has not been determined yet. We hope to find some answers soon!

My website now has an online store, featuring Catholic books and magazines, as well as Christian music and movies. If you purchase something through the store, I will receive a commission. 

If you cannot find what you want, you can go straight to Amazon.com by clicking on the Amazon search bar on the same page as the store. If you buy something through that link, I will also receive a commission.

So please remember me when you do your online shopping! Thank you for your support!

And here is my grandson at his very first bowl game! Note that USF hat (they won) !!!

Happy New Year!

Jesus is My Light

This post is supposed to be a reflection on the Epiphany. I was not sure where I was going with it, but never mind. I cannot write about it now.

My husband is in the hospital with GI bleeding. Second time with this problem in 2 months and they still do not know the cause. I do not mind telling you I am feeling afraid.

Right now I have my manger scene all set up, having just put the 3 "Wise Guys" there. I light my candle in my star shaped candle holder and I am just staring at the peaceful scene. 

Which brings me back to Epiphany and the star and Jesus being the Light of the World. I can use a little light right now.  

You are the Light of the world, Jesus. You are my light.

Sunday Snippets - January 2

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 for this week:
What's In A Name?
Finding Bethlehem
A Downpour of Love