Verse of the Day
"When Jesus saw him lying there and knew that he had been ill for a long time, he said to him, 'Do you want to be well?'"
Song of the Day
"Thank You" by Ray Boltz
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UFrdJ2V3r7Y
My Thoughts
Thank you for praying for my dad today while he went to the healing conference. The man that prayed over him, Chris White I believe, spoke healing to his mind as if the Lord spoke to him and told him exactly what was wrong with my dad. My dad had the miracle of experiencing peace from his anxiety for about 10 minutes. He wants to go back again tomorrow. Please keep praying that if it be the Lord's will, he will remove my dad's anxiety.
Friday, April 30, 2010
Thursday, April 29, 2010
April 29, 2010
Verse of the Day
"You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, with all your mind, and with all your strength." March 12:30
Song of the Day
"Look Me in the Eye" by Margaret Becker
http://s0.ilike.com/play#Margaret+Becker:Look+Me+In+The+Eye:2822641:s34521313.9637967.6125552.0.2.135%2Cstd_15b4b34ecf6f4785bc49eb7ffc92ee36
My Thoughts
I always learn the darnedest things in Joke-A-Lots reader, McGuffey's Third Eclectic Reader (as seen on Little House on the Prairie)
Copyright originally 1879
The title was "Courage and Cowardice"
Robert and Henry were going home from school, when, on turning a corner, Robert cried out, "A fight! Let Us go and see!"
"No," said Henry: "let us go quietly home and not meddle with this quarrel. We have nothing to do with it and may get into mischief."
"You are a coward, and afraid to go," said Robert, and off he ran. Henry went straight home, and in the afternoon went to school, as usual.
But Robert had told all the boys that Henry was a coward, and they laughed at him a great deal.
Henry had learned, however, that true courage is shown most in bearing reproach when not deserved, and that he ought to be afraid of nothing but doing wrong.
A few days after, Robert was bathing with some schoolmates, and got out of his depth. He struggled, and screamed for help, but all in vain.
The boys who had called Henry a coward, got out of the water as fast as they could, but they did not even try to help him.
Robert was fast sinking, when Henry threw off his clothes, and sprang into the water. He reached Robert just as he was sinking the last time.
By great effort, and with much danger to himself, he brought Robert to the shore, and thus saved his life.
Robert and his schoolmates were ashamed at having called Henry a coward. They owned that he had more courage than any of them.
Never be afraid to do good, but always fear to do evil.
So, this story led to a great discussion about who we are on earth to please- Our Lord! I explained that we often go to activities with expectations. We usually judge them on how well it went, how excited we felt, how much fun we had, when really we should look at them and discern if our behavior was pleasing to God. So, even if a particular activity wasn't a blast, if we pleased God with our behavior than it was a success for that is to be our primary goal. I also made sure she knew her own Mommy could use this advice very much as well.
"You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, with all your mind, and with all your strength." March 12:30
Song of the Day
"Look Me in the Eye" by Margaret Becker
http://s0.ilike.com/play#Margaret+Becker:Look+Me+In+The+Eye:2822641:s34521313.9637967.6125552.0.2.135%2Cstd_15b4b34ecf6f4785bc49eb7ffc92ee36
My Thoughts
I always learn the darnedest things in Joke-A-Lots reader, McGuffey's Third Eclectic Reader (as seen on Little House on the Prairie)
Copyright originally 1879
The title was "Courage and Cowardice"
Robert and Henry were going home from school, when, on turning a corner, Robert cried out, "A fight! Let Us go and see!"
"No," said Henry: "let us go quietly home and not meddle with this quarrel. We have nothing to do with it and may get into mischief."
"You are a coward, and afraid to go," said Robert, and off he ran. Henry went straight home, and in the afternoon went to school, as usual.
But Robert had told all the boys that Henry was a coward, and they laughed at him a great deal.
Henry had learned, however, that true courage is shown most in bearing reproach when not deserved, and that he ought to be afraid of nothing but doing wrong.
A few days after, Robert was bathing with some schoolmates, and got out of his depth. He struggled, and screamed for help, but all in vain.
The boys who had called Henry a coward, got out of the water as fast as they could, but they did not even try to help him.
Robert was fast sinking, when Henry threw off his clothes, and sprang into the water. He reached Robert just as he was sinking the last time.
By great effort, and with much danger to himself, he brought Robert to the shore, and thus saved his life.
Robert and his schoolmates were ashamed at having called Henry a coward. They owned that he had more courage than any of them.
Never be afraid to do good, but always fear to do evil.
So, this story led to a great discussion about who we are on earth to please- Our Lord! I explained that we often go to activities with expectations. We usually judge them on how well it went, how excited we felt, how much fun we had, when really we should look at them and discern if our behavior was pleasing to God. So, even if a particular activity wasn't a blast, if we pleased God with our behavior than it was a success for that is to be our primary goal. I also made sure she knew her own Mommy could use this advice very much as well.
Tuesday, April 27, 2010
April 27, 2010
Verse of the Day
Simon said in reply, "Master, we have worked hard all night and have caught nothing, but at your command I will lower the nets." Luke 5:5
Song of the Day
"I Wish You Jesus" by Scott Wesley Brown
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_Xz5gaOJwec&feature=related
My Thoughts
The verse of the day made me think of my dad again. We (my dad's family and friends) have worked hard to help my dad and we have caught nothing, not even a glimmer of hope, but we are lowering the nets. He is going to the healing conference as we feel strongly that the Lord is calling him go. If the Lord desires it, my dad will leave and the nets will be full.
I also think of prayer life and wishing I could do better. I really struggled with patience with Artsy today. But why is it so difficult to turn to the Lord at those times to restore our peace. It needs to become a regular part of my prayer life.
One last thought from the book on peace that stuck with me today.
"If we wait until we are saints to have a regular life of prayer, we could wait a long time. On the contrary, it is in accepting to appear before the Lord in our state of sin that we will receive healing and will be transformed little by little, into saints." (page 65 Searching for and Maintaining Peace by Fr. Jacques)
Simon said in reply, "Master, we have worked hard all night and have caught nothing, but at your command I will lower the nets." Luke 5:5
Song of the Day
"I Wish You Jesus" by Scott Wesley Brown
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_Xz5gaOJwec&feature=related
My Thoughts
The verse of the day made me think of my dad again. We (my dad's family and friends) have worked hard to help my dad and we have caught nothing, not even a glimmer of hope, but we are lowering the nets. He is going to the healing conference as we feel strongly that the Lord is calling him go. If the Lord desires it, my dad will leave and the nets will be full.
I also think of prayer life and wishing I could do better. I really struggled with patience with Artsy today. But why is it so difficult to turn to the Lord at those times to restore our peace. It needs to become a regular part of my prayer life.
One last thought from the book on peace that stuck with me today.
"If we wait until we are saints to have a regular life of prayer, we could wait a long time. On the contrary, it is in accepting to appear before the Lord in our state of sin that we will receive healing and will be transformed little by little, into saints." (page 65 Searching for and Maintaining Peace by Fr. Jacques)
Monday, April 26, 2010
April 26, 2010
Verse of the Day
"I came so that they might have life and have it more abundantly." John 10:10
Song of the Day
"I'll be your hands" by River
Go to this site. There will be a song playing on the bottom of the screen. Turn it off. Then click on "media" at the top of the screen. Then click on "music". Go to #12. You should get an almost 2 minute clip. Reminds me tremendously of my dad whom I will be discussing in my blog. It will probably touch you as well in your lives, worth the extra effort to hear it.
http://www.riverministries.net/
My Thoughts
My dad's 66th birthday is this week. He looks more like he is turning 80. My wonderful aunt is taking him to a healing conference soon. I ask for your prayers for him. I hope the fact that he is willing to go shows enough faith for the Lord to work to heal him in any of the three areas, physical, spiritual, or emotional. He is a train wreck in all three areas. He has been blind since a few days before I was married years ago. When my mom died, he was walking 11 miles a day. Now, 3 years later, he can barely make it to the neighbors house. He has suffered from severe anxiety and depression since my mom died. And I won't share his private spiritual issues, but he has them. He needs to know the love and forgiveness of our Lord in a powerful way. I pray that he will receive this at the healing conference.
Losing my mom at 62 was one thing, but then to switch roles so quickly with my dad too, was certainly something I didn't expect. But I go back to the verse of the day, knowing that God wants to not only give life to my dad but to give it abundantly. And the Lord hasn't abandoned me either, he has left me a beautiful Heavenly mother, the Blessed Virgin Mary, and a Heavenly Father to grasp onto since my mother isn't alive and my dad isn't mentally present.
On the flip side, I noticed a small, red tractor in our yard today that didn't belong to us. After questioning Race Car, I found out he took it from the neighbors yard. I am so thrilled with myself that I didn't blow a gasket. I calmly asked him what it is called if you take something that doesn't belong to you without permission or paying for it. Then we went into the ten commandments and how it was so important that people don't steal, that it made the top 10. Then we proceeded next door with the tractor in hand. Race Car did good. He was very serious and said "I am sorry. I took this tractor from your yard. I want to give it back to you." The wheel was broken. Thankfully, the boy from their house said it was already broken. Hopefully, I handled this one good and it will be the last experience with stealing. I don't think he wants to next door again and do that.
"I came so that they might have life and have it more abundantly." John 10:10
Song of the Day
"I'll be your hands" by River
Go to this site. There will be a song playing on the bottom of the screen. Turn it off. Then click on "media" at the top of the screen. Then click on "music". Go to #12. You should get an almost 2 minute clip. Reminds me tremendously of my dad whom I will be discussing in my blog. It will probably touch you as well in your lives, worth the extra effort to hear it.
http://www.riverministries.net/
My Thoughts
My dad's 66th birthday is this week. He looks more like he is turning 80. My wonderful aunt is taking him to a healing conference soon. I ask for your prayers for him. I hope the fact that he is willing to go shows enough faith for the Lord to work to heal him in any of the three areas, physical, spiritual, or emotional. He is a train wreck in all three areas. He has been blind since a few days before I was married years ago. When my mom died, he was walking 11 miles a day. Now, 3 years later, he can barely make it to the neighbors house. He has suffered from severe anxiety and depression since my mom died. And I won't share his private spiritual issues, but he has them. He needs to know the love and forgiveness of our Lord in a powerful way. I pray that he will receive this at the healing conference.
Losing my mom at 62 was one thing, but then to switch roles so quickly with my dad too, was certainly something I didn't expect. But I go back to the verse of the day, knowing that God wants to not only give life to my dad but to give it abundantly. And the Lord hasn't abandoned me either, he has left me a beautiful Heavenly mother, the Blessed Virgin Mary, and a Heavenly Father to grasp onto since my mother isn't alive and my dad isn't mentally present.
On the flip side, I noticed a small, red tractor in our yard today that didn't belong to us. After questioning Race Car, I found out he took it from the neighbors yard. I am so thrilled with myself that I didn't blow a gasket. I calmly asked him what it is called if you take something that doesn't belong to you without permission or paying for it. Then we went into the ten commandments and how it was so important that people don't steal, that it made the top 10. Then we proceeded next door with the tractor in hand. Race Car did good. He was very serious and said "I am sorry. I took this tractor from your yard. I want to give it back to you." The wheel was broken. Thankfully, the boy from their house said it was already broken. Hopefully, I handled this one good and it will be the last experience with stealing. I don't think he wants to next door again and do that.
Sunday, April 25, 2010
April 25, 2010
Verse of the Day
"We know that we belong to God, and the whole world is under the power of the evil one." 2 John 5:19
I didn't have a quote that stuck out to me today, so I said "Okay Lord, I am going to put the first highlighted verse I see as my verse for the day". So, this may not have been my choice, but it must have been God's.
Song of the Day
"I'll Lead You Home" by Michael W. Smith
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BcakUX2swGI
My Thoughts
I am currently printing off important things from my old computer, so that we can get rid of it. In its day, it was a fine piece of machinery. But my first computer right out of college, the 165C Mac, has past its glory days. But as I sit here multi-tasking, I have also found the perfect job for Curly. He stands at perfect height to see the papers coming out of the printer and then hands them to me. He is fully entertained at this moment. Praise God!
I am feeling a lack of direction today, so I will keep this short and leave you with one thought from my book.
"We must know that one of the weapons that the devil used most commonly to prevent souls from advancing toward God is precisely to try to make them lose their peace and discourage them by the sight of their faults." (Pg. 63 Searching for and Maintaining Peace by Fr. Jacques)
"We know that we belong to God, and the whole world is under the power of the evil one." 2 John 5:19
I didn't have a quote that stuck out to me today, so I said "Okay Lord, I am going to put the first highlighted verse I see as my verse for the day". So, this may not have been my choice, but it must have been God's.
Song of the Day
"I'll Lead You Home" by Michael W. Smith
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BcakUX2swGI
My Thoughts
I am currently printing off important things from my old computer, so that we can get rid of it. In its day, it was a fine piece of machinery. But my first computer right out of college, the 165C Mac, has past its glory days. But as I sit here multi-tasking, I have also found the perfect job for Curly. He stands at perfect height to see the papers coming out of the printer and then hands them to me. He is fully entertained at this moment. Praise God!
I am feeling a lack of direction today, so I will keep this short and leave you with one thought from my book.
"We must know that one of the weapons that the devil used most commonly to prevent souls from advancing toward God is precisely to try to make them lose their peace and discourage them by the sight of their faults." (Pg. 63 Searching for and Maintaining Peace by Fr. Jacques)
Saturday, April 24, 2010
April 24, 2010
Verse of the Day
"The church throughout all Judea, Galilee, and Samaria was at peace. It was being built up and walked in the fear of the Lord, and with the consolation of the Holy Spirit it grew in numbers." Acts 9:31
Song of the Day
"Everything Falls" by Fee
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4V11E0VTlmY&feature=related
My Thoughts
Peace as described in the Merriam-Webster Online dictionary has several listings, but the most important for my soul is "freedom from disquieting or oppressive thoughts or emotions". This peace is only found in our Lord, but how to obtain it seems to be my quest right now. My children are young, yet I lose my peace so quickly. I can't imagine what I will be like when they are older if I don't learn how to embrace this peace from our Lord. I know He has it there for the taking despite what life deals out to me.
I think of my life and how much I enjoy it, but yet how much I allow Satan to steal that peace away. It can get extremely frustrating to have a strong desire to react differently to experiences my children go through, but despite that strong desire I continue going down the path that rips my peace away. According to the book on peace that I have mentioned in my earlier blogs, it becomes a question of how to regain our peace as quickly as possible when we have been troubled by our imperfections, therefore avoiding more sadness and discouragement.
The reasons I need to do this are #1) God acts in the peace of one's soul. I loved the verse of the day because the church was in peace and Holy Spirit's consolation was upon them. Was it no surprise that there were so many miracles in the book of Acts? So, peace is essential to allow God to work. "Rather than troubling ourselves, it is more efficacious to regain our peace and let God act." (p 58)
The second reason is that it is more pleasing to God for us to react this way. Fr. Jacques listed a beautiful prayer that I am going to copy to use frequently. I mean what could be better than when we are discouraged and tormented to react by saying this prayer:
"Lord, I ask Your pardon, I have sinned again. This, alas, is what I am capable of doing on my own! But I abandon myself with confidence to Your mercy and Your pardon, I thank You for not allowing me to sin even more grievously. I abandon myself to You with confidence because I know that one day You will heal me completely and, in the meantime, I ask You that the experience of my misery would cause me to be more humble, more considerate of other, more conscious that I can do nothing by myself, but that I must rely solely on Your love and Your mercy."
The third reason is that when we are troubled, the sadness and discouragement are rarely pure, usually pride exists in there somewhere. In fact, this excessive pain is actually a sign that we have put our trust in ourselves - in our own strength and not in God.
I don't know. Maybe by focusing on peace and working to obtain it, I will get better at handing things over to God and over analyzing the kids experiences less. It is as if I wish I could just get my brain to stop thinking sometimes, but I am realizing that isn't the solution. Maybe I need to stop thinking about a certain situation, but I need to start thinking more about God. This blog is helping me to do that. It is just so evident why I felt such a strong call to blog my experience of Lent this past Ash Wednesday - to help me keep my focus where it belongs, on Our Lord!
"The church throughout all Judea, Galilee, and Samaria was at peace. It was being built up and walked in the fear of the Lord, and with the consolation of the Holy Spirit it grew in numbers." Acts 9:31
Song of the Day
"Everything Falls" by Fee
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4V11E0VTlmY&feature=related
My Thoughts
Peace as described in the Merriam-Webster Online dictionary has several listings, but the most important for my soul is "freedom from disquieting or oppressive thoughts or emotions". This peace is only found in our Lord, but how to obtain it seems to be my quest right now. My children are young, yet I lose my peace so quickly. I can't imagine what I will be like when they are older if I don't learn how to embrace this peace from our Lord. I know He has it there for the taking despite what life deals out to me.
I think of my life and how much I enjoy it, but yet how much I allow Satan to steal that peace away. It can get extremely frustrating to have a strong desire to react differently to experiences my children go through, but despite that strong desire I continue going down the path that rips my peace away. According to the book on peace that I have mentioned in my earlier blogs, it becomes a question of how to regain our peace as quickly as possible when we have been troubled by our imperfections, therefore avoiding more sadness and discouragement.
The reasons I need to do this are #1) God acts in the peace of one's soul. I loved the verse of the day because the church was in peace and Holy Spirit's consolation was upon them. Was it no surprise that there were so many miracles in the book of Acts? So, peace is essential to allow God to work. "Rather than troubling ourselves, it is more efficacious to regain our peace and let God act." (p 58)
The second reason is that it is more pleasing to God for us to react this way. Fr. Jacques listed a beautiful prayer that I am going to copy to use frequently. I mean what could be better than when we are discouraged and tormented to react by saying this prayer:
"Lord, I ask Your pardon, I have sinned again. This, alas, is what I am capable of doing on my own! But I abandon myself with confidence to Your mercy and Your pardon, I thank You for not allowing me to sin even more grievously. I abandon myself to You with confidence because I know that one day You will heal me completely and, in the meantime, I ask You that the experience of my misery would cause me to be more humble, more considerate of other, more conscious that I can do nothing by myself, but that I must rely solely on Your love and Your mercy."
The third reason is that when we are troubled, the sadness and discouragement are rarely pure, usually pride exists in there somewhere. In fact, this excessive pain is actually a sign that we have put our trust in ourselves - in our own strength and not in God.
I don't know. Maybe by focusing on peace and working to obtain it, I will get better at handing things over to God and over analyzing the kids experiences less. It is as if I wish I could just get my brain to stop thinking sometimes, but I am realizing that isn't the solution. Maybe I need to stop thinking about a certain situation, but I need to start thinking more about God. This blog is helping me to do that. It is just so evident why I felt such a strong call to blog my experience of Lent this past Ash Wednesday - to help me keep my focus where it belongs, on Our Lord!
Friday, April 23, 2010
April 23, 2010
Verse of the Day
"Take courage, it is I; do not be afraid." Matthew 14:27
Song of the Day
"Be Not Afraid" by Michael John Talbot
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QBH-Eh9Bjjg&feature=PlayList&p=0FFD26345FE4A297&playnext_from=PL&playnext=1&index=4
My Thoughts
Parenting isn't for the faint of heart. I struggle continuously with fear and letting go of control, entrusting my children to God daily. To me these are monumental tasks. Today, I even put on my Pope John Paul II bracelet on that says "Be Not Afraid". I get so anxious in regards to certain areas of my children's lives. Gratefully, I have friends that remind me that God does have a mission for each child. He loves them. He is preparing them, so they can successfully complete that mission. I view all situations that aren't perfect as horrible, instead of viewing them as a great opportunity to teach my children how to deal with adversity and quite frankly how to deal with other children that aren't nice. I am an adult and there are still people that simply aren't nice, but how does God want us to handle this?
I went back to my book on peace as I was feeling a definite lack of peace. Interestingly enough, the next section I was on was "Patience Toward Others". I am thinking "Okay Lord, I am listening." I always think that if others would behave better than I would be peaceful and without distress. Well, I will spend my lifetime waiting for that. "How many people lose their peace because they want, at any price, to change those around them!" (page 55) But again, what does the Lord ask us to do? He asks us to bear with patience the faults of others. So often I get upset, but what I need to do is pray for these people. "This patience is all the more important in that it brings about in us a purification that is absolutely indispensable." (page 56)
So, I feel great blogging again. Today while my compulsive head was spinning about one of my children, the 3:00pm alarm went off. Time for the Divine Mercy Chaplet. All the kids gathered round, except Curly who was sleeping. Again, I was reminded of our goal here on earth: To know, love, and serve our Lord in this life, so that we can be forever happy with him in the next. I revelled in that five minutes with Race Car on my lap and Joke-a-Lot and Artsy on either side. Life is good.
"Take courage, it is I; do not be afraid." Matthew 14:27
Song of the Day
"Be Not Afraid" by Michael John Talbot
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QBH-Eh9Bjjg&feature=PlayList&p=0FFD26345FE4A297&playnext_from=PL&playnext=1&index=4
My Thoughts
Parenting isn't for the faint of heart. I struggle continuously with fear and letting go of control, entrusting my children to God daily. To me these are monumental tasks. Today, I even put on my Pope John Paul II bracelet on that says "Be Not Afraid". I get so anxious in regards to certain areas of my children's lives. Gratefully, I have friends that remind me that God does have a mission for each child. He loves them. He is preparing them, so they can successfully complete that mission. I view all situations that aren't perfect as horrible, instead of viewing them as a great opportunity to teach my children how to deal with adversity and quite frankly how to deal with other children that aren't nice. I am an adult and there are still people that simply aren't nice, but how does God want us to handle this?
I went back to my book on peace as I was feeling a definite lack of peace. Interestingly enough, the next section I was on was "Patience Toward Others". I am thinking "Okay Lord, I am listening." I always think that if others would behave better than I would be peaceful and without distress. Well, I will spend my lifetime waiting for that. "How many people lose their peace because they want, at any price, to change those around them!" (page 55) But again, what does the Lord ask us to do? He asks us to bear with patience the faults of others. So often I get upset, but what I need to do is pray for these people. "This patience is all the more important in that it brings about in us a purification that is absolutely indispensable." (page 56)
So, I feel great blogging again. Today while my compulsive head was spinning about one of my children, the 3:00pm alarm went off. Time for the Divine Mercy Chaplet. All the kids gathered round, except Curly who was sleeping. Again, I was reminded of our goal here on earth: To know, love, and serve our Lord in this life, so that we can be forever happy with him in the next. I revelled in that five minutes with Race Car on my lap and Joke-a-Lot and Artsy on either side. Life is good.
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