Jesus Will Not Leave Us Orphans

"I will not leave you orphans; I will come to you." - John 14:18

I love knowing that Jesus is always with us. Not just with us, but in us. That makes a difference when I really think about it.

Jesus sends His Spirit, the Spirit of Truth, to dwell within us always.

Not just when we are paying attention. Not just when we "feel" Him. Not just when we are praying. Not just when we are listening.

Always.

Jesus sends the Advocate, the Consoler, the Encourager to dwell within so we are not alone. So we can speak His truth and know His guidance and feel His love and peace.

And so we can bring that love, that peace. that truth, that encouragement ... to others.

Dear Jesus, thank you for loving me so much, for not leaving me orphaned. Knowing that you dwell within me makes all the difference in my life. I need you so much. I need your guidance and I need your love. Help me to bring your light to others. Help me to listen to your Spirit within me and feel your peace. Amen.

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Sunday Snippets - May 29

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:
Jesus Reveals the Father
Thankful for Blessings: Support from All Directions
Sabbath Moments: Restful Times 
Showing Off My Grandson

Sabbath Moments - God's Peace

Sabbath moments are a way of taking time, just "being" instead of "doing". Sabbath time is time to rest in God, to enjoy God in silence or in nature.

The word sabbath comes from a Hebrew word meaning "cease." And that is what we need to do sometimes, cease our activity and live in the moment and breathe in God.

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!

Here are some of my sabbath moments this week:
1. I stopped by the little lake in my park yesterday and sat there for a few minutes. There was no wildlife that I could see but there was a slight breeze, causing little ripples in the water. In just a few seconds I could feel myself relax, feeling God's peace.
2. An hour of Adoration at 1 am in the morning was just what I needed to feel closer to Jesus. What a blessing!
3. Last week I listened to Gregorian Chant. I did the same this week but also some Taize music and prayer from France. Very peaceful and restful. A beautiful sabbath moment.
Blessings to all! Praying that you have many sabbath moments this week!

Thankful for Blessings - Support from All Directions

I just love Wednesdays because it is the day I join my beautiful friend, Judy, in this 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. Be sure to also check out her website when you visit! Judy writes beautifully and you will enjoy her reflections!
Some of my other blessings this week:
1. My wrist splint is helping my carpal tunnel syndrome. No pain lately!! Thank you, Lord.
2. Blogging - I am thankful for being able to write my blogs and to share with other bloggers. I appreciate the support and advice of you all!
3. My best friend of 50 years - we are like 2 peas-in-a-pod! We understand each other and are there to support each other always. Thank you Lord.
4. My ministry of Spiritual direction. I still feel the "call" to it and will do it until the Lord decides I'm done. Pope Benedict spoke about the importance of spiritual direction the other day. Thank you, Lord, for giving me this gift of spiritual direction.
5. My dear hubby, who has been working extra hard lately and is very tired and doesn't allow me to hover. :) I am grateful, Lord, for this very special man in my life and for the 31 (almost 32) years of marriage.

Hearing God's Whisper

Sometimes God speaks to me in whispers. Sometimes He shouts to get my attention. But I am not hearing God at all right now. My prayer life has been so dry. Desert dry. I find myself looking for other things …
Read more in my column at CatholicMom.com ...

Jesus Reveals the Father

"Whoever has seen me has seen the Father." - John 14:9

Fr. T was my spiritual director for many years. Never had I known anyone like him. No one had ever shown me such respect and care. No one had ever shown me such compassion and understanding. 

And mercy.

And patience. A lot of patience.

One day I heard that scripture verse and it hit me. By knowing Fr. T, I had come to know Jesus. And in knowing Jesus, I had come to know the Father.

Dear Jesus, thank you for revealing the Father to us through your actions and deeds. May we too reveal the Father to others by being more like you. Help us to love with your love and show mercy with your mercy. Amen.
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Sunday Snippets - May 22

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:
Called By Name
My Three Favorite Scripture Verses

Showing Off My Grandson

Sabbath Moments - Restful Times

Sabbath moments are a way of taking time, just "being" instead of "doing". Sabbath time is time to rest in God, to enjoy God in silence or in nature.

Sabbath moments can be planned and they can come up spontaneously, like rounding a corner in the road and seeing a gorgeous rainbow. The word sabbath comes from a Hebrew word meaning "cease." And that is what we need to do sometimes, cease our activity and live in the moment and breathe in God.

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!

Here are some of my sabbath moments this week:
1. Took some quiet time for spiritual reading and reflecting Friday morning. This silent time with the Lord is one of my favorite kinds of sabbath moments!
2. Very tired this week. Stayed in bed longer on Friday morning. I was feeling cozy and thankful for days off and for this silent restful time with God.
3. Prayed with the Pray as you go podcast on my iphone. Ever tried it? You can go on the website and listen to it on your computer.
4. Listening to some Gregorian Chant always makes me feel closer to God. A sabbath moment to be sure!

Thankful for Blessings - May 18

I just love Wednesdays because it is the day I join my beautiful friend, Judy, in this 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. Be sure to also check out her website when you visit! Judy writes beautifully and you will enjoy her reflections! I am thankful for her support and friendship!
Some of my other blessings this week:
1. My hubby - for many, many reasons, including the chocolate chip cookies he made me this week (my favorite!) :)
2. Rain - woo hoo! We needed some rain. Flowers and green grass and trees woke up a bit after that rain!
3. Devotionals - don't you love reading those little devotionals that inspire and move you and give you things to ponder and pray about?
4. Eucharistic Adoration - We have not had adoration for about 5 weeks for one reason or another. But we are having it this week again and I am soooo grateful! I miss having special time with Jesus.
5. Spiritual Friendship - right now I do not have a spiritual director - they are in short supply in my area. But I have a spiritual friend - a God buddy - with whom I can share my journey. A real blessing!

My Three Favorite Scripture Verses

Mary at The Beautiful Gate tagged me on a blog tag called Three Favorite Scripture Verses.

Here are the rules:

1.Write a post on your three favorite verses from the Bible and why you like them.

2. Link back to this post.

3. In your post tag three other bloggers to carry this theme forward, link to you and tag additional bloggers.

As usual, I did not follow the rules by tagging anyone but instead, I invite all who read this to join in if you wish!

I had a hard time picking my 3 favorites. I have so many! Here are my top 3 (I think)!

1. I am with you always, until the end of the age. Matthew 28:20

This is my absolutely favorite scripture verse no matter what is going on in my life. Knowing that Jesus will never leave me and is always with me gives me tremendous comfort and helps me to trust in His love and care. Whenever I am tempted to think that Jesus is not with me, this verse reminds me that He is.

2. For I know well the plans I have in mind for you, says the Lord, plans for your welfare, not for woe! plans to give you a future full of hope. Jeremiah 29:11

This verse gives me hope. No matter how down I may feel, or depressed or scared, I read this verse and I feel better and more hopeful.

3. We love because he first loved us. 1 John 4:19

There are two meanings to this verse for me. One - we don't have to love God in order for God to love us. God is love (verse 8) and He loves us whether or not we pay any attention to him and whether or not we sin and whether or not we love him. God loved us before we were born.

Two - We know how to love others and we know how to love God because God first loved us and has taught us about love. The real kind of love. As an incest survivor, I used to wonder how I was able to learn to love anyone. Then I read this verse and I understood. I learned to love because God taught me about love, by loving me.

I am able to love, because God first loved me.

Called by Name

"The gatekeeper opens it for him, and the sheep hear his voice, as he calls his own sheep by name and leads them out.

When he has driven out all his own, he walks ahead of them, and the sheep follow him, because they recognize his voice." - John 10:3-4

He calls his own sheep by name.

Have I ever heard that call? Have I heard Him speak my name?

This makes me think of Mary Magdalene when she did not recognize Jesus after His resurrection until He called her by name. "Mary."

The sheep follow him, because they recognize his voice.

Sometimes we recognize Jesus' voice through others' words, written or verbal. 

Sometimes we recognize Jesus in the silence of our hearts. Or in another person. Or in nature. Or in scripture.

But in order to recognize Jesus, we need to listen. We need to be still and listen and pay attention to the world and people around us.

Jesus, thank you for being my shepherd. Thank you for calling me and calling me until I finally hear your voice. Thank you for promising to be with me always. Help me to pay attention. Help me to recognize you. May I always follow you and hear your voice. Amen.

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Sunday Snippets - May 15

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:

When Do Our Hearts Burn for Jesus?

Empty Nests

Sabbath Moments - Empty Nests

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!
Here are some of my sabbath moments this week:
!. Again I made some extra time for reading. I am reading a book about the "empty nest.' I have lived in an empty nest now for about 7 years and thought I was pretty much used to it. No such thing, I guess. BUT reading another woman's experience of it helps me to know I am not alone. How cool is that? (Book is by Mary Jenson.)
2. Winter season is over. Snowbirds gone north for the summer. Took some time to watch the ducks floating in the pond and squirrels playing in the trees. Less traffic. Less noise. More moments of silence in my outer AND inner world.
3. Worked in the parish office alone last week. That means more phone calls to answer and a never-ending list of things to do. But my iphone rang at preset times to remind me to take a deep breath and pray Jesus' name. This helped to give me patience, peace and relaxing time, even if only for a "sabbath moment."

Thankful for Blessings - May 11

I just love Wednesdays because it is the day I join my beautiful friend, Judy, in this 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. Be sure to also check out her website when you visit! Judy writes beautifully and you will enjoy her reflections! I am thankful for her support and friendship!
Some of my other blessings this week:
1. Such a beautiful day today. Warm but not too hot. Sunny. Squirrels playing in the trees again. Spring is here!
2. I love my job at the church. I am very busy this week, doing so many things at once, it seems! Very fulfilling and humbling, too.
3. I have been spoiled by my husband and children these past few weeks between birthday and Easter and Mother's Day! Thank you, Lord, for my beautiful family.
4. I enjoy writing my blogs and my website and my ebooks and my retreats. Thank you, Lord, for this gift which is fun, frustrating, fulfilling, scary and healing.
5. I am thankful for my daughter-in-law - her birthday was this week. She has had quite a year, including becoming a mother for the first time to my adorable grandson for whom I am thankful too! His first birthday is coming up soon! Which reminds me, I have not posted a picture for, oh, let's see... maybe a whole week or so!! :)

When Do Our Hearts Burn for Jesus?

Then they said to each other, "Were not our hearts burning (within us) while he spoke to us on the way and opened the scriptures to us?" - Luke 24:32

"Were not our hearts burning?"

Sometimes my heart burns when I hear Jesus' voice. I hear Him in different ways. Maybe a word in a homily or a prayer or the readings at Mass. Or in a song.

I posted last week that when I attended the diocesan Mass for victims of sexual abuse, the song sung was "I Heard the Voice of Jesus Say." And the words really touched my heart and tears streamed down my face.

Sometimes my heart burns when I hear or read someone's witness. Or when I sit in front of the Blessed Sacrament or receive the Eucharist. Or when someone says something that touches me so much, I know it must be from God.

Some of those God-incidences that happen can cause my heart to burn. And those times when God lifts the veil ever so slightly so we can get a glimpse of His presence in our lives.

The thing is, Jesus promised to always be with us. So why is my heart not always burning? Am I not paying attention?

Lord, may my heart continue to burn with love for you. Help me to recognize you in the breaking of the bread. In the words spoken. In the songs sung. In the faces around me. In the silence of my heart.

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Sunday Snippets - May 8

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:
Lord, I Believe
Thankful for Blessings

Sabbath Moments - Taking the Time

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!
Here are some of my sabbath moments this week:
1. Have not had much reading time lately and that drives me crazy!  So I made some extra time for reading and that was really relaxing. I read about friendships and prayer!
2. Took some extra time for prayer as well. Time often seems to be in such short supply doesn't it? But I found a quote that I used in my newsletter this month by St. Pio - "Prayer is the oxygen of the soul." Prayer needs to be a priority.
3. Had some rain this week. Just a little and we could use some more. I sat looking out the window one early evening. I always love watching a slow rain. I seem to slow down and become quiet (on the inside as well as on the outside).
4. I have been listening to some retreat talks on CD on my drive to work and home again. It passes the time and inspires me, too, with some beautiful prayerful talks.
What were some of your sabbath moments?

Thankful for Blessings - May 4

I love Wednesdays because it is the day I join my special 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. Be sure to also check out her website when you visit! Thank you, Judy, for helping me keep an attitude of gratitude!

Some of my blessings this week:

1. My children - I was so upset this week about the news about Osama bin Laden and how my feelings were going back and forth. If you read my post about it, you may have noticed two comments by Spiro. They were from my two sons. I don't think they have ever commented before on one of my blog posts but I guess they wanted to comfort me somehow. What great guys!

2. My husband - he made me a great birthday dinner - my favorite mac & cheese recipe of all time - I have simple tastes! He is feeling pretty good lately. We have to keep a close eye on his bloodwork but no blood transfusions needed for past 4 months. What a relief.

3. We have eagles at our church. We do not always see them but last week I saw one of them fly to a favorite spot on top of a pole across the street. Then someone told me she saw one of the eagles fly overhead at the beginning of the Easter sunrise service. It flew to the pole and stayed there for most of the Mass. "He will bear us up on eagles wings, bear us on the breath of dawn...."

4. Chocolate cake. I had some for my birthday. What can I say but Yum!?! And I am grateful for my co-workers - who gave me the chocolate cake!

5. The Beatification of John Paul II. My "first" pope. Il Papa. What a day. What a weekend eh?

A Few Words About Bin Laden's Death

A few thoughts. A few feelings.

When I first heard the news about bin Laden being killed, I was shocked.

As more details became known, I felt relief. He cannot kill anyone any more.

Then pride. Americans never give up, I thought.

Then I felt sick. How can I, as a Christian, be happy about someone being killed? I am pro life, after all.

Then tears. Sadness. I had no idea I still felt this sad 10 years later. I remember 9-11 like it happened yesterday. And I also remember the news videos of people in some Arab countries, dancing in the streets, celebrating 9-11. And I remember hoping I would never be like that, that I would never rejoice like that over someone's death. That I would never celebrate the taking of a human life.

I am still going through all of these feelings. They flicker through me like a slide show. But Father James Martin, SJ in his column in the weekly magazine, America, helped me put it all into some perspective -

"I am glad he (bin Laden) has left the world. And I pray that his departure may lead to peace. But as a Christian, I am asked to pray for him and, ultimately, to forgive him. And that command comes to us from Jesus, a man who was beaten, tortured and killed. That command comes from a man who knows a great deal about suffering. It also comes from God." 

Fr. Martin also reminds us of Pope John Paul II visiting the man who tried to kill him and forgiving him.
Tough world we live in. Hard to know how to feel or what to think. All I can do is pray and hope God helps me figure it all out. 
And that He helps us all heal.

Blessed Pope John Paul II

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Lord, I Believe

Thomas answered and said to him, "My Lord and my God!" Jesus said to him, "Have you come to believe because you have seen me? Blessed are those who have not seen and have believed." John 20:28-29

I love Thomas. He is not afraid to admit when he has doubts but when he recognizes the Lord, he makes a strong declaration of faith and adoration...

My Lord and my God!

I remember when I finally understood and believed in my heart that the Eucharist was the Real Presence of Christ. I had that same feeling that Thomas must have had. No doubts. No fears. And at the elevation of the Host at Mass, I say those same words...

My Lord, and my God!

I do not always recognize the presence of Jesus in my life. I do not doubt He is with me, but I am not always paying close attention.

Then suddenly, I become more aware and then I recognize Jesus. And I am filled with joy!

My Lord and my God!

Dear Lord, help me to see you in my everyday life. Help me to grow in faith and to be more aware of your presence in all things. I love you, Jesus.

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