Thankful for Blessings- Lights for Our Journey

My blogging friend, Judy, has an inspiring blog, A Thankful Woman's Book of Blessings. Join her every Wednesday in giving thanks for the many blessings we receive from God. Write a list of 5 blessings and then link to Judy's blog. Also check out her website and her newly published book! Thanks for this meme, Judy!

1. I am thankful for the Thanksgiving holiday and the extra time with family.
2. I am thankful for Advent and all the devotions and spiritual help available to help us make this advent journey and grow closer to Jesus.
3. I am thankful for the GPS that someone gave to me a couple of months ago. It really helped hubby and me when we were away for Thanksgiving. An accident on the interstate (after dark!) forced us off the highway into a city neighborhood we did not know! We had no idea where we were. It was a little scary but the GPS directed us through unknown territory and back to our hotel and we were so relieved and grateful!
4. I am thankful for beautiful Christian music that just lifts me up and brings joy to my heart!
5. I am thankful for my husband who surprised me yesterday with some Christmas lights he had bought and put up on our little porch. By the time I get home from work, it is dark and they are a welcome sight!
What were some of your blessings this week?
Be sure to check out my advent pages on my website.

Watch for the Lord

 "Be watchful! Be alert!" - Mark 13:33

Watch. Be alert.
It is now advent, the time that we wait. We wait for the coming of the Messiah into our hearts.
We say - Come, Lord Jesus, come. Like he is not here already. Like He has left us.
Jesus, of course, never leaves us. But we leave Him. We set our attention on other things, and then wonder where He has gone.
We get all caught up in Christmas shopping and Christmas gifts and decorating and parties, that when we finally take a moment to breathe, we feel as if Jesus is absent.
Jesus never left. We did.
Our best chance of finding God is to look in the place where we left him.  - Meister Eckhart
So it is time to place ourselves again in Jesus’ presence. We pray. We place ourselves in that cave in Bethlehem. We go on a pilgrimage to our hearts.
And that is where we find Him. In our hearts. Where He has been all along.
Advent reminds us to wait. Advent reminds us to pray. Advent reminds us that Jesus is coming and yet, is still with us. Present everyday.
Emmanuel. God with us.
Be alert.
Watch.
Dear Lord, help me to live in the present moment and to be more alert to your presence in my heart and my life always. Help me to not get all caught up in the Christmas shopping frenzy. Remind me to visit the Bethlehem of my heart today and everyday. I love you, Jesus. Amen.

Tricia at Home of the Hmm...ily invites all to link up with her to share your reflections on Sunday scripture.

Sunday Snippets - November 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 for this week:
1. An Attitude of Gratitude
2. Welcome All as Christ

An Attitude of Gratitude

“If the only prayer you say in your life is ‘thank you,’ that would suffice." – Meister Eckhart

I can remember my spiritual director telling me that giving thanks everyday, even when times are tough for us, is one of the most meaningful prayers we can offer. I didn’t know how that was possible. I thought I had to FEEL grateful in order to give thanks. And how am I supposed to feel grateful when I’m sad or afraid?

Eventually I began to understand that an attitude of gratitude is more than just a feeling. It is more than being grateful for the good things that come our way.

An attitude of gratitude is about seeing the blessings in all the ups and downs of our lives, even in the darkest of storms. It is about seeing God’s loving presence in everything.

However, we don’t arrive at this attitude by ourselves. We need God’s grace. In looking back, I can see such moments of grace in my life, moments that have helped me to learn what it means to be truly thankful.

I remember those years when I attended a Catholic charismatic prayer group meeting. The main purpose of these meetings was to praise and worship God. I felt drawn to go there every week, giving thanks and praise to God over and over. And every week I went home, filled with joy.

There was the time when my husband had open heart surgery and serious complications and yet, all I could say was “thank you, Lord.” I felt such a strong sense of God’s presence with me, carrying me through every agonizing moment.

There were the years I spent working on my memoir about my healing journey as an incest survivor. And in writing it, I found hope and healing, and the understanding that there are two sides to every coin – the blessing and the curse. And I was grateful that God gave me the grace to see the blessing side to my suffering.

When I think about suffering, I think about Jesus and His suffering on the Cross. And yet, on the night He was to be betrayed, He gave thanks.

“… the Lord Jesus, on the night he was handed over, took bread, and, after he had given thanks, broke it and said, ‘This is my body that is for you. Do this in remembrance of me.’” 1 Cor 11:23-24

If there is to be one reason for me to have an attitude of gratitude, it would have to be the Eucharist. Over 20 years ago, I converted to the Catholic Church and I have been grateful ever since.

The word “eucharist” comes from a Greek word meaning “grateful” or “thanksgiving.”

Eucharist.

Thanksgiving.

Two words. Same meaning.

At the Last Supper, Jesus gave thanks, before breaking the bread. He gave thanks, knowing what he was going to go through; knowing the pain and suffering He would endure for us.

And everyday, during Mass, Jesus gives us the gift of Himself.

And we give thanks.

Thankful for Blessings - Happy Thanksgiving!

Thank you to my blogging friend, Judy, who has an inspiring blog, A Thankful Woman's Book of Blessings. Join her every Wednesday in giving thanks for the many blessings we receive from God. Usually we make a list of 5 things for which we are thankful. However, this week we celebrate Thanksgiving, so I depart from that usual format.

For those of us who participate in this meme each week, giving thanks is something we try to do on a regular basis. This meme really helps us to be more aware of the blessings in our lives, even during some hard times.

Being grateful seems to change my attitude about things, about life in general. I complain less and I strive to find the gift in all things and all people and all situations. For this I am so grateful.

I found some Thanksgiving prayers, but here is a simple one of my own that I offer to you.

Happy Thanksgiving!

Loving Father,

Thank you for your unconditional love, your mercy and compassion.
Thank you for my family and friends and the love I have come to know through them.
Thank you for the gift of life and for all your creation.
Thank you for my job and the food on my table.
Thank you for my faith and for the Church and for the Eucharist.
Help those who have been away from You to find their way home again.
Father, I praise you and I give you thanks. 

Through Jesus Christ our Lord, Amen.

Welcome All As Christ

And the king will say to them in reply, ‘Amen, I say to you, whatever you did for one of these least brothers of mine, you did for me.’  Matthew 25:40

When I read or hear this gospel, I often think of this quote from the Rule of St. Benedict: "All guests who present themselves are to be welcomed as Christ, for he himself will say: I was a stranger and you welcomed me (Matt 25:35).”
And he doesn’t just mean that we are to be hospitable. He means we are to accept each person as they are. We are to treat each person with love and humility.
We are to treat each person as God treats us.
Each person, not just Christians.
Each person, not just the orphaned or the poor.
Each person, including ourselves.
We are all to be welcomed as Christ.
There is an old rabbinic story about angels that walk in front of human beings, calling out “Make way for the image of God! Make way for the image of God!”
Do we see each other in that way? Do we see ourselves in that way?
What would change if we did?
What would change in this world if we really saw – in each other - the presence of Christ?
Dear Lord, I wish to see You in all people. I want to remember that I am made in your image and I belong to You, but I get wrapped up in the world. Help me, Lord, to see you in everyone I meet. Help me to love like you love. Amen.

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Sunday Snippets - November 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 for this week:
1. Glorify God with Our Gifts
2. Thankful for Blessings - Birthdays and Chocolate

Sabbath Moments - Sabbath Time with the Lord

Sabbath moments are a way of taking 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.
1. Eucharistic Adoration. I have not been to adoration for quite a few weeks now for one reason or another and I missed it. I was so happy to make it to my middle of the night hour and just sit with Jesus, soaking in His love and light.
2. Spiritual reading. I am making a conscious effort to read at least an hour every day, and more when I can. I have been a voracious reader since I was a little girl, but lately it has been tough finding time to read. If I do not read, I do not write very well. Even my prayer seems dry. Reading feeds me in so many ways. It is another way to just BE with the Lord and be nourished.
3. Keeping the Lord's Day. Last Sunday had breakfast with some friends after Mass. Hubby had a baptism so I went home and read (more than an hour!) and prayed. It was a quiet afternoon, and when hubby got home, we just chilled. It was a truly perfect Sabbath day - Mass, prayer, friends and family. And rest!
What were some of your Sabbath moments this week?
Please note: I will not be posting Sabbath Moments next week because of the Thanksgiving holiday.

Thankful for Blessings- Birthdays and Chocolate

My blogging friend, Judy, has an inspiring blog, A Thankful Woman's Book of Blessings. Join her every Wednesday in giving thanks for the many blessings we receive from God. Write a list of 5 blessings and then link to Judy's blog. Also check out her website and her newly published book! Thanks for this meme, Judy!
1. I am thankful for my hubby. We are celebrating his birthday this week! He is the sunshine of my life and I drive him crazy singing that song all the time! :)
2. I am thankful that my youngest son came to town for his dad's birthday. We brought him out to dinner to his favorite restaurant and just enjoyed each other's company. And laughed a lot.
3. Chocolate. I love chocolate. What else is there to say?
4. Cooler weather. We turned off the air conditioner for a few days. However it is back on today. It is that time of year when we say, "If you don't like the weather, then just wait a minute!"
5. I am thankful that my older son called us and filled us in on his new job and how well he and his family are adjusting to their new home and neighborhood. I still miss them but I am less worried!

Glorify God with Our Gifts

Come share your Master's joy. – Matthew 25:21

What if we buried our gifts? What if we didn’t use the gifts God gave us?
I wonder about that every time I hear someone who sings like an angel…
I wonder about that every time I see a painting that touches my heart…
I wonder about that every time I hear a speaker who moves me … or hear a homily that inspires me or listen to a teacher who challenges me.
We are all given gifts. Sometimes we are too afraid to share them. Or we think we are not worthy to use them. So we hide them.
But we are not given gifts so we can bury them. We are given gifts to use them and to help others.

As each one has received a gift, use it to serve one another as good stewards of God’s varied grace. Whoever preaches, let it be with the words of God; whoever serves, let it be with the strength that God supplies, so that in all things God may be glorified through Jesus Christ, to whom belong glory and dominion forever and ever. Amen. - 1 Peter 4:10-11a

What if my spiritual director had hidden his gifts of spiritual direction and compassion and healing? He is the one who helped me to discover and use my own gifts.
What about the people who have come to me for spiritual direction? Has God used me to help them discover their gifts?
When we use our gifts to serve one another, they grow.
When we do not use our gifts, when we bury them … what happens then?
Dear Lord, help me to recognize the gifts you have given me and give me the courage to use them according to your will. May I always use these gifts to glorify you and give you praise. Amen.

Sunday Snippets - November 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 for this week:
1. Stay Awake
2. Thank You All
3. Moments to Just Be

Sabbath Moments - Moments to Just Be

Sabbath moments are a way of taking 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.
1. Sabbath moments are those moments that we take to just "be" rather than do.
One evening this week, I was just too tired to do much of anything. So I sat in my favorite chair, pulled a throw blanket up to my chin, watched some TV with my hubby and fell asleep in my chair.
I resisted that inner voice that kept telling me I was not being productive and I was just being lazy and I was getting nothing done.
Actually I was getting something done. I was taking time to just BE.
2. Friday was Remicade day - the medicine infusion that is supposed to help my RA. I have been having a flare lately (increase in symptoms) and the Remicade was increased. It will take a few days to know if it helped me more.
Anyway, receiving the med is always a sabbath moment for me. It forces me to just BE and it is relaxing really, after I get stuck with that needle, that is. I read and I pray and I watch a tv show on my iphone and I just chill.
3. I was driving home from work one evening and the full moon was just gorgeous. It was sitting a bit low in the sky and as I drove over the bridge, it looked like I was driving straight for the moon!
It was eerie and cool all at the same time! I wish I had a picture!
Thank you, Lord, for that beautiful moment!
What were some of your sabbath moments this week?

Thankful for Blessings- Growing Old Together

My blogging friend, Judy, has an inspiring blog, A Thankful Woman's Book of Blessings. Join her every Wednesday in giving thanks for the many blessings we receive from God. Write a list of 5 blessings and then link to Judy's blog. Also check out her website and her newly published book! Thanks for this meme, Judy!
1. I so appreciate the use of computers at work. When I first started my job as parish secretary (over 19 years ago!), I was using a typewriter! Gosh, I am feeling old!
2. I appreciate email, too. At work and at home. I am better able to stay in touch with people. My best friend of over 50 years, for example (oh-oh - I am feeling old again!) We used to write letters but did not keep up with them very well. 
3. I am grateful for my parish. We are 21 years old this year. September 1st, to be exact. I remember our very first Mass. What a joy! I love our parish family and feel grateful everyday!
4. I am thankful for my husband. I am grateful that we get to grow old together. It is amazing how our relationship grows and deepens each year. It is all the little things that seem to matter the most. Like how he makes me laugh.
5. I am thankful for my faith and for all that God has done for me and for His everlasting love.
What are some of your blessings this week?

Thank You All

God is good.

I posted a gospel reflection yesterday called Stay Awake. It was my 1000th post on this blog. Hard to believe that I have written that many! I have been blogging for three years!

I just want to take this opportunity to give thanks to God for this experience and for the blogging friends I have come to know as we share our love of God through our love of writing.

I began blogging because I was told it was a good way to help promote my book, The Third Floor Window and to share my story of being an incest survivor. Little did I know that this blog would bless me in ways that have nothing to do with that book.

I have become part of a community that I didn't even know existed. I have learned so much about God and Church and community. I have learned about writing and sharing and a new way of evangelizing; something that has even been encouraged by our Holy Father!

My purpose in writing this blog quickly changed. I created another blog that deals with being an incest survivor, called Surviving by Grace, and it is there where I have a community of support from other survivors.

I kept this one as my Catholic blog, dealing with spirituality and prayer and my relationship with God. (Sometimes the subjects overlap, of course. I am both an incest survivor and a Catholic, after all, and we can't separate ourselves in neat little compartments!)

Anyway, this blogging thing has turned into a healing and an encouraging, happy journey for me. Thank you to all who visit and comment and have become my friends. 

You have blessed me with your blogs and your sharing and your support and your prayers and your friendship.

My spiritual director used to always say that God can be subversive. He gets us to do what he wants us to do by tricking us into it! I think He led me into this blogging world under false pretenses!

You duped me, Oh Lord, and I let myself be duped! - Jer 20:7

Only kidding, Lord. 

Thank you.

Stay Awake

"Therefore, stay awake, for you know neither the day nor the hour." - Matthew 25:13

Stay awake.

It could happen at any time. Any day. Any hour.

Are we ready? Are we awake? Or are we sleeping through our days and our hours?

Are we living in the present moment? Are we thanking God for each new day?

Or are we living in the past and regretting it? Or thinking and dreaming about the future and worrying about it?
Please help me to stay awake, Lord. I do not want to take one minute for granted. I want to live each moment to the fullest - always awake, always aware of your presence, always aware of your love, Lord.

I Blog Jesus Award

My friend, Mary, at The Beautiful Gate gave me this award! Thanks so much, Mary! If you have not been to Mary's blog, please be sure to visit! You will love it!

This award was created by Monica at Equipping Catholic Families and is for blogging moms who:

~Strive for a stronger Faith and closer relationship with Jesus.

~Aspire to grow spiritually through a vocation as a "King's Kid"... a daughter of God, and a Catholic wife and mom.

~Seek to encourage others in their own spiritual journeys and Faith formation in their families through the Catholic training tools and gifts that they create and yes...through their blog.

I really appreciate this award, Mary.  Thank you!

I pass this award onto Judy at Benmakesten! She homeschools and has a website and just published her first book and definitely blogs Jesus! Be sure to pay her a visit!

Sunday Snippets - November 6

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:
1. Called to Serve
2. Stealing Jenny - A Book Review
3. Thankful for Blessings - Books, Birds and Rainbows

Sabbath Moments - Taking Time to Listen

Sabbath moments are a way of taking 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.
1. Listening to my wind chimes as I write this. It gives me pause and always sounds so peaceful and pretty.
2. This week my RA giving me trouble so I am "forced" to sleep more and rest. I see this as an opportunity for sabbath rest.
3. Listened to a CD by Scott Hahn talking about the Mass, describing and explaining each part of the Mass. So very moving and inspiring.
4. Had lunch with a friend and we shared our thoughts and feelings about God and prayer.

Thankful for Blessings- Books, Birds & Rainbows

My blogging friend, Judy, has an inspiring blog, A Thankful Woman's Book of Blessings. Join her every Wednesday in giving thanks for the many blessings we receive from God. Write a list of 5 blessings and then link to Judy's blog. Also check out her website and her newly published book! Congratulations, Judy!
1. I am thankful that my husband and I are recovering from the bad colds we had last week.
2. I am thankful for the rainbow I saw yesterday on the way to work It was very faint but beautiful nonetheless.
3. I am thankful for all the birds coming south for the winter. There were some beautiful white ones at a nearby pond. I didn't know what kind of birds they were but they were pretty and fun to watch.
4. I am thankful for books. They teach and inspire and entertain.
5. I am thankful for my son who is on his way to his new home as I write this. I pray that he and his family have a safe trip and that they will feel at home soon in their new neighborhood and he will be happy in his new job.