Do not fear...

.
.. if you have given and consecrated everything to God, why do you fear?

Don't Fear. Trust God and Believe

Be cheerful and rest trustingly ... in the arms of divine mercy, and do not fear.

Thought For The Day

Let's always keep Jesus present in our minds.

A thought for the day

Be patient in bearing your imperfections ...

Thought for Monday

It is only when God withdraws his help and leaves the proud man to his own devices, that it becomes evident what a man is worth without God . . . Humility is a supernatural virtue by which we lovingly recognize our true value in God's eyes, and are disposed to render him due recognition for all the good we find in ourselves . . . We are the soil in which Christ grows; his roots will only pick out from us what is in accordance with his Father's will, and therefore it depends upon us to decide whether by doing the will of God we are to be absorbed by Christ and are to enter into life - or to be left by him in the exterior darkness of our own will. - Father Eugene Boylan, O.C.S.O.

Thought for Monday

Open your soul more and more to divine hope.
How good our God is! Have more trust in His divine mercy.

My Father in heaven.

Father in Heaven,
You made me Your child
and called me to walk in the Light of Christ.
Free me from darkness
and keep me in the Light of Your Truth.
The Light of Jesus has scattered
the darkness of hatred and sin.
Called to that Light,
I ask for Your guidance.
Form my life  in Your Truth,
my heart in Your Love.
Through the Holy Spirit,
give me the power of Your Grace 
that I may walk in the Light of Jesus
and serve Him faithfully.

Come Holy Spirit

Lets open ourselves to the Holy Spirit and receive Him as our closest friend, our guide and our comforter.

Cardinal Mercier's
Prayer To The Holy Spirit

I am going to reveal to you a secret of sanctity and happiness. For five minutes every day quiet your imagination, close your eyes to everything visible and your ears to all external sounds and withdraw into the sanctuary of your baptized soul which is the temple of the Holy Spirit. There, speak to the Holy Spirit and say:

"O Holy Spirit
soul of my soul
I adore you.
Enlighten
guide,
strengthen and console me.
Tell me what I ought to do
and command me to do it.
I promise to submit to everything
that you ask of me
and to accept all
that you allow to happen to me.
Just show me what is your will."

If you do this, your life will be happy and serene. Even in the midst of troubles you will experience great consolation, for grace will be given to strengthen and help you to cope with every difficulty.

 

John 14:16  And I will pray the Father, and he shall give you another Comforter, that he may abide with you for ever;
John 14:26 But the Comforter, which is the Holy Ghost, whom the Father will send in my name, he shall teach you all things, and bring all things to your remembrance, whatever I have said to you.
Acts 1:8 But you shall receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you shall be my witnesses in Jerusalem and in all Judea and Sama'ria and to the end of the earth
Romans 5:5 And hope makes not ashamed; because the love of God is shed abroad in our hearts by the Holy Ghost which is given to us.
Romans 8:26 Likewise the Spirit also helps our infirmities: for we know not what we should pray for as we ought: but the Spirit itself makes intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered.
Romans 8:27 And he that searches the hearts knows what is the mind of the Spirit, because he makes intercession for the saints according to the will of God. Ephesians 4:30 And grieve not the holy Spirit of God, whereby you are sealed to the day of redemption.

 Also visit Spiritual Sundays It would be a wonderful gift for anybody  in need of spiritual uplift.

“If anyone thirsts, let him come to me and drink.”

May Jesus ... continue to increase more and more ... your thirst for His heavenly love ...

Monday Prayer

 

A Spirit to Know You

Gracious and Holy Father,
Please give me:
intellect to understand you,
reason to discern you,
diligence to seek you,
wisdom to find you,
a spirit to know you,
a heart to meditate upon you,
ears to hear you,
eyes to to see you,
a tongue to proclaim you,
a way of life pleasing to you,
patience to wait for you
and perseverance to look for you.

Grant me a perfect end,
your holy presence,
a blessed resurrection
and life everlasting.

Amen

 

St. Benedict of Nursia
ca. 480-547

Christ be our light.

Jesus is the light of the world , let him shine trough you .

I am the light of the world whoever follows me will never walk in darkness but will have the light of life ....

“The Light shines in the darkness and the darkness has not overcome it”

-John 1:5

Go do something beautiful... in the name of Jesus, do something beautiful!

101 Timeless Lessons Life Teaches

Take everything you’ve ever learned – all the crazy experiences
and lessons – and place it all in a box labeled “Thank you.”

Look what I found the other day! I found this in Marc and Angel's website. A website where posts are made to inspire…

What has life taught you? Think about all the things you would love to tell yourself if you could travel back in time to give your younger self some advice about life.

1. What you do today is important because you are exchanging a day of your life for it.
2. In life, you usually get what you ask for, but it rarely comes in the package you think it’s supposed to come in.
3. Never let one bad day make you feel like you have a bad life.
4. Just because today is a terrible day doesn’t mean tomorrow won’t be the best day of your life. You just got to get there.
5. Tell the truth, or eventually someone will tell it for you. 
6. A mistake is an accident. Cheating and lying are not mistakes. They are intentional choices.
7. Sometimes the person you want most is the person you’re better off without.
8. Some people cannot stand that you’re moving on with your life, and so they will try to drag your past to catch up with you. Do not help them by acknowledging their behavior. Keep moving forward.
9. Surround yourself with positive people who are going to push you toward greatness. Eliminate those who are trying to keep you from it.
10. Don’t let something that doesn’t matter cause you to lose something that does.
11. Sometimes people aren’t who they seem to be, and sometimes people are so much more than you originally thought.
12. Loving someone isn’t just about saying it every day, it’s showing it every day in every way.
13. Maturity is not when we start speaking about big things, it’s when we start understanding the small things.
14. Of all the things that can be stolen from you – your possessions, your youth, your health, your words, your rights – what no one can ever take from you is your freedom to choose what you will believe in, and who and what your heart will love.
15. When you can forgive yourself and others and stop the imprisonment, you’re creating the love of your life.
16. Not forgiving is like drinking poison and expecting the other person to die.
17. Age wrinkles the body. Quitting on your dreams wrinkles the soul.
18. The past can’t hurt you anymore – not unless you let it.
19. Holding on to the unchangeable past is a waste of energy, and serves no purpose in creating a better future.
20. Sometimes you’ve got to emotionally let go of the things that once meant a lot to you, so you can move beyond the past and the pain it brings you, and open the next chapter in your life.
21. The path to our destination is not always a straight one. We go down the wrong one, we get lost, and we turn back. But maybe it doesn’t matter which road we embark on. Maybe what matters is that we embark.
22. It doesn’t matter if you’ve failed or if you’ve been beaten. All that matters is that you learn something, get back up, and try again. Because winning is a good feeling, but winning when nobody else thought you could is an awesome feeling.
23. Knowing yourself is one thing, but truly believing and living as yourself is another. With so much social conditioning in our society, we sometimes forget who we are.
24. The most certain way to succeed is always to try just one more time.
25. You can grow stronger from the pain if you don’t let it destroy you.
26. Tell the negativity committee that meets inside your head to sit down and shut up.
27. The worst person to be around is the one who complains about everything and appreciates nothing. Avoid these people at all costs.
28. Live in such a way that if someone decided to speak badly of you, no one would believe it.
29. If you love someone, tell them. For hearts are often broken by words left unspoken.
30. Life is shorter than it often seems. Sometimes we are only given a few minutes to be with the ones we love, and hundreds of hours to spend thinking of them. Cherish the moments you have with your friends and family, because in one single second they can be taken away from you forever.
31. Things change, but the sun always rises the next day. The bad news: nothing is permanent. The good news: nothing is permanent.
32. It’s your road, and yours alone. Others may walk it with you, but no one can walk it for you.
33. We often accept the love we think we deserve.
34. If someone can’t accept you at your worst, they don’t deserve you at your best.
35. Without communication there is no relationship; without respect there is no love; without trust there’s no reason to continue.
36. If you leave someone at least tell them why, because knowing you’re not worth an explanation is even more painful than being abandoned.
37. Speak when you are very angry, and you’ll make the best speech you’ll ever regret.
38. Choose your words carefully – they can’t be taken back once you give them away. Harsh words are like bullets – they can leave deep wounds. And most of the time saying “sorry” is not enough to heal the wounds you leave.
39. Never make a big decision when you’re angry, and never make a big promise when you’re overjoyed.
40. It makes no sense to be second in someone’s life when you know you’re good enough to be first in someone else’s.
41. Take all the time you need to heal emotionally. Moving on doesn’t take a day; it takes lots of little steps to be able to break free of your broken self.
42. There is a difference between giving up and knowing when you have had enough.
43. Sometimes a break from your routine is the very thing you need.
44. When you find yourself cocooned in isolation and despair and cannot find your way out of the darkness, remember that this is similar to the place where caterpillars go to grow their wings.
45. Don’t count the number of friends you have; count the number of friends you can count on.
46. Sometimes, the people who are thousands of miles away from you, can make you feel better than people right beside you. That’s a sign of love and true friendship.
47. There are times when family are like strangers, and strangers are like family.
48. Life is not about making others happy. Life is about sharing your happiness with others. 
49. When someone tells you, “You’ve changed,” it might simply be because you’ve stopped living your life their way.
50. If you’re lucky enough to have something that makes you different from everybody else, don’t ever change.
51. Know you worth! When you give yourself to someone who doesn’t respect you, you surrender pieces of your soul that you’ll never get back.
52. Imperfections are important, and so are mistakes. You get to be good by learning from your mistakes and you get to be real by being imperfect.
53. The best way to gain self-confidence is to do what you are afraid to do.
54. The mind is like a parachute. It doesn’t work unless it’s open.
55. The difference between who you are and who you want to be, is what you do.
56. If you really want to know where your destiny lies, look at where you apply your time.
57. You are where you are right now because of the actions you’ve taken, or maybe the inaction you’ve taken.
58. Be sure to taste your own words before you spit them out.
59. Let the constant growth and improvement in your own life keep you so busy that you have no time left to criticize others.
60. When you try to control everything, you enjoy nothing. Go for long walks. Indulge in great conversations. Question your assumptions. Love yourself. Pay attention to the moment. Be a little crazy. Count your blessings. Let go for a little while and just be.
61. Just as we cannot see that a seed has taken root until it breaks through the surface, we cannot always see our own growth happening until it does the same.
62. Don’t ever change just to impress someone. Change because it makes you a better person and leads you to a better future.
63. Feelings are like waves in the ocean; we can’t stop them from coming, but we can choose which ones to surf.
64. Being happy doesn’t always make us grateful, but being grateful will always make us happy.
65. Smile every chance you get; not because life has been easy, perfect, or exactly as you had anticipated, but because you choose to be happy and grateful for all the good things you do have and all the problems you know you don’t have.
66. It’s nice to have money and the things that money can buy, but it’s also important to make sure you haven’t lost track of the things that money can’t buy.
67. If you’re finding it hard to be grateful for anything, sit down close your eyes and take a long slow breath and be grateful for oxygen. Every breath you take is in sync with someone’s last.
68. Life is like a rainbow, you need both the sun and the rain to make its colors appear.
69. It’s better to be alone with dignity than in a relationship that requires you to sacrifice your self-respect.
70. Inner peace begins the moment you choose not to allow another person or event to control your emotions.
71. Moving on can mean that you’re making a choice to be happy rather than hurt. It doesn’t mean that you’re giving up. 
72. Decide to smile and make the best of it; it’s good for your health.
73. Don’t let loneliness drive you back into the arms of someone you know you don’t belong with.
74. Love is not about sex, going on fancy dates, or showing off. It’s about being with a person who makes you happy in a way nobody else can.
75. You don’t need a perfect one. You just need someone who you can trust – who shows you that you’re the only one.
76. There are people in your life whom you knowingly inspire simply by being you.
77. Everyone says love hurts, but that’s not true. Loneliness hurts. Rejection hurts. Losing someone hurts. Envy hurts. Everyone gets these things confused with love; but in reality love is the only thing in this world that covers up all pain and makes someone feel wonderful again. Love is the one thing in this world that does not hurt.
78. Real friendship is a promise made in the heart. Silent. Unwritten. Unbreakable by distance. Unchangeable by time.
79. Good relationships are not just about the good times you share; it’s also about the obstacles you go through together, and the fact that you still say “I love you” in the end.
80. Do small things with huge amounts of love. You’ll see why.
81. Sometimes people don’t notice the things others do for them until they stop doing them.
82. Sometimes we expect more from others because we would be willing to do that much for them.
83. Look at yourself and remember, people in far worse situations have done far more difficult things than this.
84. The best thing that you can do in life is follow your intuition. Take risks. Don’t just make the safe and easy choices because you’re afraid of what might happen. If you do, nothing will ever happen.
85. Most of the time happiness doesn’t come from money or fame or power; it comes from good friends and family, and from the quiet nobility of leading a good life.
86. Lying is done with both words and silence.
87. When something bad happens you can either let it define you, let it destroy you, or you can let it strengthen you.
88. Don’t waste your time being upset about something you can’t change. Start again right now and do it better this time.
89. No relationship is ever a waste of time. If it didn’t bring you what you want, it taught you what you do NOT want.
90. You can’t always be agreeable. That’s how people take advantage of you. Sometimes you have to set boundaries.
91. The road to success is always under construction.
92. Not trying is failing.
93. Don’t be afraid of going slowly; be afraid of standing still forever.
94. The only time you should look back is to see how far you’ve come.
95. Stop wasting time regretting what you did a year ago. Start doing what you have to do now, so that in a year’s time you won’t regret what you did today. 
96. It’s not how many times you get knocked down, it how many times you get back up.
97. Follow your heart regardless of what others tell you to do. At the end of the day it’s you that has to live with your decisions, not them.
98. One of the greatest freedoms is truly not caring what everyone else thinks of you.
99. The hardest part about growing is letting go of what you were used to, and moving on with something you’re not.
100. The best things happen when you least expect it. Just sit back and enjoy the ride.
101. Sometimes you have to stop worrying, wondering, and doubting. Have faith that things will work out, maybe not how you planned, but just how it’s meant to be.

Have a blessed and happy life! :)

   Also Visit Spiritual Sundays. It would be a wonderful gift for anybody in need of spiritual uplift.

Never forget who you are and Who you were made for..

Feed Your Faith

"[For] whoever is begotten by God conquers the world. And the victory that conquers the world is our faith." (1 John 5:4)

Held In God's Hands

Isaiah 41:10 (NASB)

‘Do not fear, for I am with you;
Do not anxiously look about you,

for I am your God.
I will strengthen you,

surely I will help you,
Surely I will uphold you

with My righteous right hand.’

We can rest assured and trust that we are held in God's loving hands and everything will be alright.

     Also Visit Spiritual Sundays. It would be a wonderful gift for anybody in need of spiritual uplift.

The love of God: A thread that ties them all together ...

EVER ANCIENT, EVER NEW

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. In my unloveliness I plunged into the lovely things which you created. You were with me, but I was not with you. Created things kept me from you; yet if they had not been in you they would have not been at all. You called, you shouted, and you broke through my deafness. You flashed, you shone, and you dispelled my blindness. You breathed your fragrance on me; I drew in breath and now I pant for you. I have tasted you, now I hunger and thirst for more. You touched me, and I burned for your peace.

from The Confessions of Saint Augustine

Cure' of Ars - On Prayer

My children, you have a small heart, but prayer enlarges it and renders it capable of loving God. Prayer is a foretaste of heaven, a flowing out of a touch of paradise. It never leaves us without sweetness. It is a honey, which descends in the soul and sweetens everything. The troubles melt before a well said prayer like the snow before the sun.

Prayer is a fragrant dew; but it is necessary to pray with a pure heart to smell this dew. See my children, the treasure of a Christian is not on the earth, it is in heaven. Well! Our thought ought to go where our treasure is. Man has fine obligation, that of praying and of loving... You pray, you love: that is the happiness of man on the earth. Prayer is no other thing than a union with God.

When one has a heart pure and is united to God, one feels in oneself a balm, a sweetness which intoxicates, a light which dazzles. In this intimate union, God and the soul are like two pieces of wax melted together; they can no longer be separated. It is a very beautiful thing, this union of God with his little creature. It is a happiness that one is not able to understand. Prayer makes time pass with great speed, and so agreeably that one doesn't notice its duration. The more one prays, the more one wishes to pray. (Saint John Vianney)

Especially over the past years, God has shown Himself to be  steward of my heart. He has shown me that He wants to restore it and grow it, but He will do it only to the extent that I allow Him.  I know that I can come to him with anger, with confusion, with joy and with questions of any sort and I know He will not turn me away.Through prayer God multiplies our efforts and make the impossible, possible; how do we know that by FAITH. With that we can seek God’s face without doubts.Life can never be the same, once we discover that in the deepest center of our soul, we can live that intimate relationship with God for which we were created.Prayer keeps me connected to God and Him to me in good times but also in bad. It is who I am. 

         Also Visit Spiritual Sundays. It would be a wonderful gift for anybody in need of spiritual uplift.

RISE TO YOUR POTENTIAL THROUGH GOD

Imagine for a moment the 3000-year-old, giant California redwood tree--over 25 stories high--taking 17 people hand-in-hand to reach around it. Enough lumber to build 40 five-room houses. And then imagine that this all once came from a tiny seed, weighing only 1/16 thousandth of an ounce (0.0018 grams), and so small you could lose it in the palm of your hand. Then ask yourself, "Would God have given more potential to a tree than he would to you and me?"

Our heavenly Father is in charge of fulfilling the potential He has given us—lets trust Him to do exactly that.
Lets Open our Bible and Unlock our Potential

Ephesians 3:20 - "Now all glory to God, who is able, through his mighty power at work within us, to accomplish infinitely more than we might ask or think."

Also Visit Spiritual Sundays. It would be a wonderful gift for anybody in need of spiritual uplift.

I AM SO BLESSED

 I hope you all had a wonderful Mothers Day full of appreciation, not only for your own mother, but for yourself as well. Lets start the week with a heart full of thankksgiving for all of God's blessings.

Prayer of Thanksgiving
by Walter Rauschenbusch

O God, we thank you for this earth, our home;
For the wide sky and the blessed sun,
For the salt sea and the running water,
For the everlasting hills
And the never-resting winds,
For trees and the common grass underfoot.
We thank you for our senses
By which we hear the songs of birds,
And see the splendor of the summer fields,
And taste of the autumn fruits,
And rejoice in the feel of the snow,
And smell the breath of the spring.
Grant us a heart wide open to all this beauty;
And save our souls from being so blind
That we pass unseeing
When even the common thornbush
Is aflame with your glory,
O God our creator,
Who lives and reigns for ever and ever.

The Other Mother's Day

This article I am sharing reminded me of how many different experiences and emotions can arise on Mothers Day. How many different paths we have walked as a mother I know this is not a light hearted Mother's Day message, yet I know I'm not alone in this and if my sharing can touch a sister in a difficult place for that I am thankful.
So Happy mother's Day to all those who were, are or will be mothers, plus grandmothers and godmothers!
Be blessed always :)

Read on…
By Kathy Coffey

Sure, I’m a sucker for Mother’s Day. What’s not to like—the pampering, the unaccustomed leisure, the meals I don’t prepare, the kids trying to cook, gift, charm and repair the brain damage caused the previous year? The media sing mom’s praises and the advertisers woo us with perfume, jewelry and lingerie. It’s a lovely custom, well timed in spring as lilacs bud, grass greens and warmth returns. But lately I’ve been thinking about the other side of Mother’s Day: the heartbreak. For too many people, this day doesn’t mean corsages, brunches and presents. Within my immediate circle are seven teenagers whose moms have died and two moms whose sons have died, tragically young. Broaden this to all whose mothers or children have died recently. That’s a lot of people whose throats tighten when they see the impossibly attractive models in the newspaper or TV ads. Imagine those whose mothers or children are serving in the military, or are incarcerated, institutionalized or alienated. Many women yearn to be mothers, but even the expensive ordeal of fertility treatments hasn’t filled their empty arms. Then there are moms who’ve given up a child for adoption, whose hearts harbor questions and whose hands long to tousle a toddler’s hair, even to know what color it is. Women who’ve had a recent miscarriage or a stillbirth—how must they feel? Some might argue that the sorrow of some shouldn’t overshadow the joy of many. True enough. Let the celebration of moms continue full force—with a heightened sensitivity. If we are truly members of one mystical body in Christ, then for us, “when one cries, the other tastes the salt.” If one person delights in health, it doesn’t diminish compassion for another who is ill. So too for Mother’s Day. Emphasis on the “perfect” relationship (which no one has) worsens the heartache for those who feel distant from it. We’re not out to reform the media here, a task like teaching a pig to sing—an annoying waste of time for both parties. Once again, we take a countercultural stance. Within the Catholic community, we should discover ways to make this holiday less painful for those who don’t fit the prefabricated mold. The mother figure most central to the Catholic tradition is Mary. We do her a great disservice by pretending that her life was idyllic. Some statues suggest that she did nothing but gaze piously at the sky or look vapidly at the lilies. Instead, she suffered the same push-pull all mothers do, delighting in her child’s growth yet knowing that every day brought her closer to his departure. Mary’s tension was magnified by knowing that her son’s integrity would surely set him in conflict with both political and religious authorities. All moms have dreams for their offspring; surely, she never imagined that her kind, sensitive boy would die hanging naked, a criminal crucified between two thieves. Because Mary lost her child, the Mothers of the Disappeared feel close to her. So did an Italian mother whose sorrow for her dead son was so intense, she could only rock, whispering, “Madonna capisce” (“the Mother understands”). Because Mary was fully human, she endured bewilderment, confusion, disappointment and pain. No stranger to excruciating loss, she embraces those to whom Mother’s Day brings only nightmares. We can turn to her when we’re waiting tensely in the principal’s office, the ER or the jail. Even after Jesus’ death, she played a decisive role in the squabbles of the early Church. Because she tried to keep the first Christians faithful to Jesus’ vision, she’s the patron for moms who bring peace to warring families. The first, best teaching occurs at home. Children who are already making or buying gifts for their mom should be encouraged to think beyond their immediate family. The elderly neighbor would surely appreciate a bouquet, too. Telling stories or talking at meals about those who may not have a mom to celebrate sows the seeds of understanding. Could a childless aunt or lonely friend be included in a dinner invitation? Too often, people don’t know what to say to the recently bereaved, so they abandon them to a solitary grief. At home, we model that even a bumbling attempt is welcome: a call or e-mail simply to say, “I was thinking about you today. Broader concern could start in the pulpit. The impossibly idealistic view of motherhood makes most people squirm because it’s sentimental. A skilled homilist can lead us beyond our pressing reality to a larger view. The predicaments of teenagers or small children can become all-absorbing to a parent. Sometimes, we need a gentle reminder of how lucky we are to have those struggles. A daughter may be expensive and bratty, but she’s alive. A mom may be argumentative and overprotective, but she’s a treasure to cherish long after she’s gone. Who else cares if your socks match and your teeth are brushed Noel Cunningham, owner of the posh Strings restaurant in Denver, Colorado, holds an annual brunch called “I Remember Mama” for 175 elderly women who have no family in town. In addition to a gourmet meal, the moms receive chocolates, flowers and handmade cards. A local taxi company provides free transportation. The guests vest in their Sunday best, and participate in a contest for most glamorous hat. On one of the busiest business days of the year, this generous restaurateur pampers and delights guests who pay nothing. Parishes could easily model and adapt his idea. Meals on Wheels, subsidized housing or other local programs for seniors could help identify the women. Then various groups join the act—children in religious education make cards, Confirmation candidates cook a meal, catechumens provide rides, the choir sings for entertainment, the Bible study group gives a blessing. In one way or another, the whole parish contributes creatively. Of course it doesn’t resolve the whole problem. Sadly, many still hope the day ends quickly. But it broadens our awareness that there’s more to this holiday than media glitz and bling. Mothers have always modeled sensitivity and compassion to their children. They’d be the first to encourage it on their special day. Our rituals have always expressed—with more power than language—our core beliefs. If Catholics value life, we should ritualize it. We believe the fetus is fully human: then why so few rituals for a miscarriage? Why do we never pray publicly for the mom who’s placed her baby for adoption? Many people think she’s done the right thing, but support for her seems thin and silent. We are learning more about grief; surely, naming it and holding it in prayer long after the funeral is a necessary step toward healing. Many parishes give mothers a flower or say a blessing over them. Those efforts could be expanded by inviting those who mourn mothers or children to participate, too Kathy Coffey is the author of many books such as Women of Mercy, Hidden Women of the Gospels and God in the Moment: Making Every Day a Prayer. She has four children and gives retreats and workshops nationally. Also Visit Spiritual SundaysIt would be a wonderful gift for anybody in need of spiritual uplift.

God. help me become the better me

God said "Build a better world." I said, "How? The world is such a complicated, cold dark place and there is nothing I can do." God said "Just build a better you."

Let’s start the week off with a prayer:

As Morning breaks, I think of you, O Lord,
and my desire is to serve You joyfully.
With gladness, I consecrate this day to Your Sacred Heart,
and offer whatever joys and sacrifices may come my way.
Thank You for the graces You will send,
all the love, all the beauty,
and the ways You will answer my prayers.
Today, may I love my enemies,
and treat others as I would ask to be treated;
may I forgive seventy times seven and show mercy;
may I welcome the prodigal,
have compasion for the Samaritan;
be a peace maker
and love my neighbor unconditionally.
Take all my heart, and mind and strength, O Lord,
that this day may be truly lived
for Your greater honor and glory
and for the salvation of souls.
Amen.

Does God care which denomination I belong to?

God cares about "the Church," which consists of all true believers-no matter what denomination they belong to. God sent His Son to establish the true Church. You can belong to that church simply by accepting the free gift of salvation that Jesus offers to each and every person. Jesus did not come to earth, draw men unto to himself and then say, "Okay, you Methodists go over there, and you Catholics and Lutherans go over there..." In fact, His purpose was to unify all people. Galatians 3:28 says, "There is neither Jew nor Greek, slave nor free, male nor female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus."

The denominational tug-of-war began when men got too involved in the minor issues and forgot to focus on the majors. Churches began to be built upon their unique spin on doctrines or traditions, instead of on the simple saving grace of Jesus Christ. Denominational differences have caused innumerable conflicts and divisions among believers. That is not God's will for the Church! God calls us to be united in serving Him. "Make every effort to keep the unity of the Spirit through the bond of peace" (Eph. 4:3). He is not interested in which denomination you belong to; He desires that you love Him and serve Him with your whole heart and that you choose a church that teaches the Word of God.

God wants us to love one another, regardless of our differences.

We are to love one another as Jesus told us to, not just people in our own denomination, but we are to love every member of the Body

Also Visit Spiritual Sundays. It would be a wonderful gift for anybody in need of spiritual uplift.

The Name Above All Names

What If ?

What if God couldn't take the time to bless us today because we couldn't take the time to thank Him yesterday?

What if God decided to stop leading us tomorrow because we didn't follow Him today?

What if we never saw another flower bloom because we grumbled when God sent the rain?

What if God didn't walk with us today because we failed to recognize it as His day?

What if God took away his message because we failed to listen to the messenger?

What if God didn't send His only begotten Son because He wanted us to be prepared to pay the price for sin?

What if the door of the church was closed because we did not open the door of our heart?

What if God stopped loving and caring for us because we failed to love and care for others?

What if God would not hear us today because we would not listen to him yesterday?

What if God answered our prayers the way we answer His call to service?

What if God met our needs the way we give Him our lives?

"In everything I say and do, teach me how to love like you."

Let me hear Your lovingkindness in the morning; For I trust in You; Teach me the way in which I should walk; For to You I lift up my soul.
Psalm 143:8

Also Visit Spiritual Sunday. It would be a wonderful gift for anybody in need of spiritual uplift.

God's love means trust, and peace. Not fear!

Sustained by God’s love and mercy is how I live each day.
Giving Him all my cares, fears and anxiety, because He told me so.

Isaiah 41:10
Do not fear, for I am with you; Do not anxiously look about you, for I am your God. I will strengthen you, surely I will help you, Surely I will uphold you with My righteous right hand.

Isaiah 43: 1-2
But now, thus says the LORD, your Creator, O Jacob, And He who formed you, O Israel, "Do not fear, for I have redeemed you; I have called you by name ; you are Mine! 2 "When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; And through the rivers, they will not overflow you. When you walk through the fire, you will not be scorched, Nor will the flame burn you.

1John 4; 18
 There is no fear in love. But perfect love drives out fear, because fear has to do with punishment. The one who fears is not made perfect in love.    

things to inspire and aspire to

THE THOUGHT--

To live content with small means; to seek elegance rather than luxury, and refinement rather than fashion; to be worthy, not respectable, and wealthy, not, rich; to listen to stars and birds, babes and sages, with open heart; to study hard; to think quietly, act frankly, talk gently, await occasions, hurry never; in a word, to let the spiritual, unbidden and unconscious, grow up through the common--this is my symphony.

WILLIAM HENRY CHANNING.

Bless Me

Good Friday

When you trust in God, there is no need to fear...

I have no care, my cares are his!
I have no fear, He cares for all my fears.
Sweet Blessings

Lent

LETS MOVE IN !

  God says that He is our dwelling place.

Lord, today I have sought Your Face

Lord, where are you?  I want to see you! A thousand times I repeat the same thing but ...  Why not find an answer?

On one occasion a young man had the desire to climb to the summit of a mountain,  he thought there he could  see the face of the Lord. He prepared everything necessary, and one day at dawn began his great adventure to get to the slopes of the vast mountain. He ran into an old man who lived in a little old hut and the man  asked him, "Where are you going with such hurry and excitement? ". The young man replied, "the summit of this mountain, for in it I hope to see the face of the Lord." The old man said: "Why dont you stay a moment with me and help me repair my hut it is falling and as you see I'm already too old and I cant not do it alone, and when we finish you can resume your adventure."  The young man replied, "Sorry, old man, but I can not, I'm late, but when I returnd I will be glad to help you." After a couple of hours the young man reached the summit of the mountain, and with great spirit cried, "Lord, where are you?  I want to see You?  Where are you? "A thousand times he repeated the same questions but no reply. The young man saw his failure and sadly left the area.  On his way back again he passed by the hut, which was completely broken and the old man was no longer there. With out caring, he continued on his way. Soon, he found a church and decided to go in and discuss what happened with the Lord. In front of the altar he exclaimed: "Lord, this morning I sought your face and did not find it. And the Lord said, "Today, I also asked you for help ... and I did not find it"

LOVE!!!!

 Psalm 34:8

⁸ Taste and see that the LORD is good;
blessed is the one who takes refuge in him.

New International Version (NIV)

Sometimes we need to really learn to be still and let God fight our battles, all He asks of us is to be still and let Him.  

God's Light

Matthew 5:14-16

New International Version (NIV)

¹⁴ “You are the light of the world. A town built on a hill cannot be hidden. ¹⁵ Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl. Instead they put it on its stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house. ¹⁶ In the same way, let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven.

The Light of God before me.
The Light of God behind me.
The Light of God above me.
The Light of God beside me.
The Light of God within me.

From the Prayer of St. Patrick

Much love & light ~ Virginia

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Happy New Year !!!

Hope this new year brings peace on this earth. Peace, Peace and  Peace.

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May God bless each day of the year and keep us all in his loving care!