Just Say Yes

"Who is the saint? The one who obeys God in his weakness, or the one who demands to have every admirable quality before he sets forth on his quest?" Taken from FATHER ELIJAH by Michael O'Brien

"It doesn't matter how you feel , it matters what you do. Our Lord Himself said that when He told the story of theman who had two sons whom he asked to go into the vineyared. One said no, but went. The other son said yes, and never went. Who did the father's will? The one who said he didn't feel like going, but went anyway(Matt. 21:28-31)That's the example we must follow." Mother Angelica, in Little Book of Life Lessons, edited by Raymond Arroyo

" Remember the Sabbath day, and keep it holy." God, Exodus

No matter how imperfect we may see ourselves and our circumstance we must put aside our excuses and do what it takes to say "yes" to God. This may be as simple as going to church when we don't feel like it or making a commitment to serve in a new way that is more demanding of our time and resources. Either way, when we move forward in sincerity and trust, God will bless our efforts.

Life is a Battle, Spiritual Warfare

EXODUS
8Then Amalek came and fought against Israel at Rephidim.
9So Moses said to Joshua, "Choose men for us and go out, fight against Amalek Tomorrow I will station myself on the top of the hill with the staff of God in my hand."
10Joshua did as Moses told him, and fought against Amalek; and Moses, Aaron, and Hur went up to the top of the hill.
11So it came about when Moses held his hand up, that Israel prevailed, and when he let his hand down, Amalek prevailed.
12But Moses' hands were heavy. Then they took a stone and put it under him, and he sat on it; and Aaron and Hur supported his hands, one on one side and one on the other. Thus his hands were steady until the sun set.
13So Joshua overwhelmed Amalek and his people with the edge of the sword.
__________________________________________
Moses and the people of Israel were in a battle. As long as Moses kept his hands raised up, Isreal had the better of the fight. But even Moses could not do this alone. Moses needed the help of the community (Aron and Hur) to support him. We too are in a battle and without community to support us we can not have the victory. Lifes battles can be exhausting and we like Moses need to do more than just believe that our help is in the Lord. This reading is a great reminder that we need to surround ourselves with others who share our faith and whom can we can depend on for help when we are weary. Don't Go it Alone.
Love Mrs. TLF

Our Lady of Fatima

In 1917 Mary the Mother of Jesus appeared to three shepherd children in Fatima Portugal.

There is alot of misinformation about Fatima on the internet. A reliable resource is found at http://www.ewtn.com/fatima/index.htm

Prayer and Message of the Angel of Fatima

My God, I believe, I adore, I hope, and I love You. I ask pardon for those who do not believe, do not adore, do not hope, and do not love You.

The Angel said when he appeared to the children: What are you doing? You must pray! Pray! The hearts of Jesus and Mary have merciful designs for you. You must offer your prayers and sacrifices to God, the Most High.

Lucy: "But how are we to sacrifice?" I asked

Angel: In every way you can offer sacrifice to God in reparation for the sins by which He is offended, and in supplication for sinners. In this way you will bring peace to our country, for I am its guardian angel, the Angel of Portugal. Above all, bear and accept with patience the sufferings God will send you.

Apparaition of Mary

Mary: "Please don't be afraid of me, I'm not going to harm you.....Say the Rosary every day, to bring peace to the world and an end to the war...Pray, pray very much...." for more got to http://www.ewtn.com/fatima/index.htm

Be Still

"Now as they went on their way, he entered a certain village, where a woman named Martha welcomed him into her home. She had a sister named Mary, who sat at the Lord's feet and listened to what he was saying." Luke 10:38

I wonder what Jesus was saying. More importantly I ought to ask myself "what is Jesus saying to me today?". Am I willing to slow down enough to sit with Him and listen so I can hear His voice?
Much like sitting in front of the Blessed Sacrament, Mary sat at Jesus' feet and listened. I doubt if she had a book of Novena prayers with her. Sometimes that is important and God can speakto us through them but in this reading Mary simply "listened".  Today I need to lay down our prayer books, sit with Jesus and listen.
Scripture says "Be Still and Know that I am God" Pslam 46:10 .We pray for the grace to be like Mary and to make time to sit, be still and listen to our Lord. Thank God for the Blessed Sacrament where we can always go to be with Him.
Amen

Don't Worry Be Happy

Joy is prayer - Joy is strength - Joy is love - Joy is a net of love by which you can catch souls.
Mother Teresa

Let no one ever come to you without leaving better and happier.
Mother Teresa

Proverbs 3:5
5Trust in the LORD with all your heart And do not lean on your own understanding. 6 In all your ways acknowledge Him, And He will make your paths straight. "

Rest

1He who dwells in the shelter of the Most High Will abide in the shadow of the Almighty. I will say to the LORD, "My refuge and my fortress, My God, in whom I trust!" Psalm 91

What is it to live or dwell in the shelter of the Most High? The world calls us to dwell on and in a lot of things. We can dwell in our worries and in the expectations of the world around us but if we can dwell in Him we can proclaim with the psalmist..
"My refuge and my fortress, My God in whom I trust!"
and as the psalmsit faithfully procalims...
"For it is He who delivers you from the snare of the trapper And from the deadly pestilence.
He will cover you with His pinions,And under His wings you may seek refuge;
His faithfulness is a shield and bulwark. You will not be afraid of the terror by night, Or of the arrow that flies by day;Of the pestilence that stalks in darkness, Or of the destruction that lays waste at noon. ... 11For He will give His angels charge concerning you, To guard you in all your ways. They will bear you up in their hands, That you do not strike your foot against a stone. ...Because he has loved Me, therefore I will deliver him; I will set him securely on high, because he has known My name. 15"He will call upon Me, and I will answer him; I will be with him in trouble; I will rescue him and honor him. 16"With a long life I will satisfy him And let him see My salvation."
Dear God help us to stay close to you in your word and in your sacraments. Help us not to worry but to trust. May we persevere in grace and abide in you so we may rest in a faithful knowledge of your great love for us. Amen

Saint Therese of Lisieux

"You know well enough that Our Lord does not look so much at the greatness of our actions, nor even at their difficulty, but at the love at which we do them."