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.
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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."

Patience

"Without the burdens of afflictions it is impossible to reach the height of grace. The gifts af grace increase as the struggles increase" St Rose of Lima
"Be patient with everyone, but above all with yourself. I mean, do not be disturbed with your imperfections, and always rise up bravely from a fall. " St. Francis de Sales

Silence

"Let us allow ourselves to be 'infected' by the silence of Saint Joseph! We have much need of it in a world which is often too noisy, which does not encourage reflection and listening to the voice of God."
Pope Benedict XVI, December 18, 2005

Praying in Darkness

Taken from Mother Angelica's "Little Book of Life Lessons and Everyday Spirituality." Can be ordered at ewtn.com

"Sometimes I am so cold and in such darkness that I merely look to Heaven and plead for light.

That's a prayer of faith. A lot of people think that faith is all joy. Well, I don't. Faith is sometimes scary. There are many moments in life where you are uncertain about which way to go. That kind of faith is hard. There's a type of darkness in Faith , not the darkness that comes from sin, but the darkness that necessitates trust." Mother Angelica

The True Presence

John 6:53 Jesus said to them, "I tell you the truth, unless you eat the flesh of the Son of Man and drink his blood, you have no life in you. 54Whoever eats my flesh and drinks my blood has eternal life, and I will raise him up at the last day. 55For my flesh is real food and my blood is real drink. 56Whoever eats my flesh and drinks my blood remains in me, and I in him. 57Just as the living Father sent me and I live because of the Father, so the one who feeds on me will live because of me. 58This is the bread that came down from heaven. Your forefathers ate manna and died, but he who feeds on this bread will live forever." 59He said this while teaching in the synagogue in Capernaum.
Many Disciples Desert Jesus 60 On hearing it, many of his disciples said, "This is a hard teaching. Who can accept it?" 61Aware that his disciples were grumbling about this, Jesus said to them, "Does this offend you? 62What if you see the Son of Man ascend to where he was before! 63The Spirit gives life; the flesh counts for nothing. The words I have spoken to you are spirit[e] and they are life. 64Yet there are some of you who do not believe." If Jesus was speaking figuratively, then why didn't he call those back who had left because of their disbelieve to tell them He was just being symbolic. Instead He asks if they are offended by His gift of love and and tells them His words are the words of the Spirit.

"Happy is the soul that knows how to find Jesus in the Eucharist, and the Eucharist in all things!," - St. Peter Julian Eymard"

O Jesus in the Blessed Sacrament, I would like to be filled with love for You; keep me closely united with You, may my heart be near to Yours. I want to be to You like the apostle John. O Mary of the Rosary, keep me recollected when I say these prayers of yours; bind me forever, with your rosary, to Jesus of the Blessed Sacrament. Blessed be Jesus, my love..," - Pope John XXIII, Journal of a Soul

The Most Holy Body and Blood of Christ

"Behold this Heart which has so loved men that it has spared nothing, even to exhausting and consuming itself, in order to testify its love. In return, I receive from the greater part only ingratitude, by their irreverence and sacrileges, and by the coldness and contempt they have for me in this Sacrament of love... "-- Third apparition of Jesus to St. Margaret Mary Alacoque

Dear Jesus, We love you and adore you present in the most Holy Sacrament of the Altar. Help us to recognize your great love for us in this sacrament in which you gave us your entire self, body, blood, soul and divinity. May our hearts overflow with thanksgiving and generosity in response to your gift of love, allowing us to know and love you present in ourselves, and those around us. For the sake of your sorrowful passion lead and guide us. Amen

jdandrow

Our Misery and God's Mercy

Taken from the book entitled "Words of Love" Compiled by Fr. Bartholomew
Revelations of Our Lord to three Victim Souls in the 20th Century.
"Your littleness is nothing to Me, an even your falls; My Blood Wipes them all Away. All you need do is to rely on My love and surrender yourself"
"Why fear? The more miseries I find in you, the more love you will find in Me."
"What does the (souls) helplessness matter? Cannot I supply all their deficiencies? I will show how My Heart uses their very weakness to give life to many souls that have lost it.'
An earthly mother will suffer much to bring her child safely to birth and she will love that child instantly not because of what that child accomplishes or will be,but because of who he or she is -hers. She loves because she suffered for him or her and the child belongs to her. So it is with God who suffered for you. You must never forget you are His and that you belong to Him, not to your past or your faults but to Him. When you feel at your lowest surrender all to Him. Trust in His mercy that is always there for you. L, Mrs. TLF

The Solution to All Your Problems

Adore Christ in the Blessed Sacrament. The more we adore Him there in the Holy Eucharist the more we become aware of His presence in ourselves and in those around us.
In the words of Pope John XXII.....
"To keep me from sin and straying from Him, God has used devotion to the Sacred Heart of Jesus in the Blessed Sacrament. My life vows destined to be spent in the light irradiating from the tabernacle, and it is to the Heart of Jesus that I dare go for the solution of all my problems,"- Pope John XXIII

The Potters Vision

MONDAY, APRIL 30, 2007
The Potters Vision
Isaiah 64:8 (NIV)
"Yet, O LORD, you are our Father. We are the clay, you are the potter;we are all the work of your hand."
When the potter looks at the clay He has a vision of what His skilled hands will create. With love and joy he shapes the clay forming it into the image he has planned for it. God is the Potter we are the Clay. God has a plan for you. He is with you in your trials and walks with you in the fire. He longs to use these things to form you into the image of His son Jesus Christ.
I wanted to look more closely at how the image of the potter is an image of the spiritual life. So I did some research.
Interestingly enough,clay begins as Mud. For wheel thrown pottery the clay cannot be worked until it is pugged. This is when the clay master takes his raw materials and prepares them with a process by which it becomes thoroughly blended and almost all the air is forced out of the clay.( This can symbolize a purification from pride)
Next, with water and sponge, and using the action of His spinning wheel the master patiently shapes the clay. And as the clay surrenders to the plan the master has for it, its beauty and form begins to take shape.
In preparation to be “fired” the pottery is set on a shelf (left alone) to dry for several days. (In our suffering we often feel alone but God is using this time to prepare us. Remember the potter is watching, He has a plan, we are not alone.)
It is then placed in the fired up Kiln. The initial firing removes impurities that would cause the pot to break or return to mud in the glazing process. (God wants to purify us of anything that will keep us from fully receiving His love and He wants to make us strong )
As part of the glazing process the pot needs to be returned to the kiln for a second firing.It is important to note that before it is returned to the kiln for a second firing the bottom of the pot is placed in a pan of paraffin otherwise the glaze would adhere to the bottom and the pot would become a permanent part of the Kin shelf. (We belong to Him(our Lord) not the Fire. )
This all reminds me that in our trials we often forget we are children of God. God, like the potter looks at us and sees a beautiful work in progress. As we submit ourselves to His handiwork the image of a lump of clay diminishes and with the help of a purifying fire The Potters vision becomes a reality and a testimony of the great things that God can do with a soul who trusts in Him. So in your difficulties remember what I said when I began this piece.
When the potter looks as the clay He has a vision of what His skilled hands will create. With love and joy he shapes the clay forming it into this image he has planned for it. God is the Potter we are the Clay. God has a plan for you. He is with you in your trials and walks with you in the fire.(Daniel 3:25,John 19) He longs to use these things to form you into the image of His son Jesus Christ
Come Holy Spirit. Spirit of Fire and Love help us submit to God’s handiwork. Amen.
The Potters Vision, by Jdandrow Spirit Bytes

A Little "Byte" Funny or a Little Funny "Byte"

Children's Notes to God taken from http://www.basicjokes.com/djoke.php?id=412
A nun asked her class to write notes to God. Here are some of the notes the children handed in:
Dear God: I didn't think orange went with purple until I saw the sunset you made on Tuesday. That was cool.
Dear God: Instead of letting people die and having to make new ones, why don't You just keep the ones You have?
Dear God: Maybe Cain and Abel would not have killed each other so much if they had their own rooms. That's what my Mom did for me and my brother.
Dear God: If You watch me in church on Sunday, I'll show You my new shoes.
Dear God: I bet it is very hard for You to love all of everybody in the whole world. There are only 4 people in our family and I'm having a hard time loving all of them.
Dear God: In school they told us what You do. Who does it when You're on vacation?
Dear God: Are You really invisible or is it just a trick?
Dear God: Did You mean for the Giraffe to look like that or was it an accident?
Dear God: Who draws the lines around the countries?
Dear God: I went to this wedding and they kissed right in the church. Is that okay?
Dear God: Did You really mean "do unto others as they do unto you"? Because if You did, then I'm going to get my brother good.
Dear God: Thank You for the baby brother, but what I prayed for was a puppy.
Dear God: Please send me a pony. I never asked for anything before. You can look it up.
Dear God: I want to be just like my Daddy when I get big, but not with so much hair all over.
Dear God: You don't have to worry about me; I always look both ways.
Hope this started your day with a smile. Have a great Day. Mrs. TLF

First Peter

1 Peter
Cast all your anxieties on him, for he cares about you.
Be sober, be watchful. Your adversary the devil prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour.
Resist him, firm in your faith, knowing that the same experience of suffering is required of your brotherhood throughout the world.
And after you have suffered a little while, the God of all grace, who has called you to his eternal glory in Christ, will himself restore, establish, and strengthen you.
To him be the dominion forever and ever. Amen.
The enemy is always telling us that we are alone in our suffering. God tells us we are not alone("...knowing that the same experience of suffering is required of your brotherhood throughout the world" 1 Peter). We must resist the prince of lies with the Word of Truth. The Word of God that tells us Christ will restore us, establish and strenghthen us. Cast all our cares upon him, for he cares for us.
St Peter Pray for Us.

The Quest

John 10: 11 - 16
11 I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep.
12 He who is a hireling and not a shepherd, whose own the sheep are not, sees the wolf coming and leaves the sheep and flees; and the wolf snatches them and scatters them.
13 He flees because he is a hireling and cares nothing for the sheep.
14 I am the good shepherd; I know my own and my own know me,
15 as the Father knows me and I know the Father; and I lay down my life for the sheep.
16 And I have other sheep, that are not of this fold; I must bring them also, and they will heed my voice. So there shall be one flock, one shepherd.

To be known and to know. It seems as if that is everyone's quest these days. We watch daily as people in the media seeking after this quest destroy themselves and the lives of the people around them. The voice of the media with it's materialistic message of fame and fortune gets louder and louder and like sheep being led to the slaughter we witness our society heeding it's call and falling from grace.
But not all are of that fold. There are people like Mother Theresa and John Paul II who also saught to know and to be known, but by God , not the world.
We are all known and loved by God. It is said that to know Him is to love Him and to know the truth about Him and ourselves sets us free. We pray for the grace, we need to listen to His voice and to answer His call. Jesus had a quest, to lay down His life for us. What is your quest?
John 17:3 Now this is eternal life: that they may know you, the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom you have sent. jdandrow@cox.net

John 3
Jesus answered, "Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born of water and the Spirit, he cannot enter the kingdom of God.
That which is born of the flesh is flesh, and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit.
Do not marvel that I said to you, `You must be born anew.'
The wind blows where it wills, and you hear the sound of it, but you do not know whence it comes or whither it goes; so it is with every one who is born of the Spirit."


In the midst of the violence we witness in the news today I hear the call that we need to call on the Holy Spirit with great resolve and fervor, inviting Him to manifest the fullness of His power in our hearts in a way that will truely change us and our world. Let us pray for the victums of violence that our Lord would comfort them and help them in their sufferings. Dear God please help them and save our country. Do not let them become overcome by evil but may their sorrow lead them to know the power of Jesus, the power of His resurrection and the power of His great Love for them. Come Holy Spirit.
Amen

Divine Mercy

"Those who sincerely say ‘Jesus, I trust in You’ will find comfort in all their anxieties and fears."
"There is nothing more man needs than Divine Mercy – that love which is benevolent, which is compassionate, which raises man above his weakness to the infinite heights to the holiness of God."
—John Paul II Shrine of Divine Mercy in Cracow, Poland on June 7, 1997

http://www.thedivinemercy.org/message/johnpaul/quotes.php