A Christmas Day/Eve Prayer
From All of Us
Our New Tradition

Dear God,

We are thankful that on this Day/Eve of Christmas we, along with millions of people around the world, are celebrating together the miraculous birth of Your Son, Jesus Christ.

We are grateful for our family and friends who have safely traveled near and far to be together on Christmas. Our decorations and beautiful lights serve as gentle reminders of the star filled night of Your son’s birth.

The Christmas tree which represents eternal life is in the midst of our homes putting Christ at the center of our lives --and we pray --together --for His presence every day of the year.
Tonight we gather around the tree to share the gift of giving and honor Jesus on this glorious holy night.

We thank you Lord for blessing us with food to eat, and acknowledge our gift of abundance while so many others have less or none. We pray that the less fortunate are not forgotten and have received blessings from others who are near them.

We pray that we become compassionate people that will serve one another and please you.
We offer this new tradition tonight that we share with each other to keep alive the “true meaning of Christmas” for generations to come. For it is through Christ’s birth and resurrection that we have hope of reuniting with all those who have gone before us -- and who will go after us to their rest, especially . . .

[name all the departed],

and all others who have gone to their rest in the hope of rising again.



Dear Jesus,

We pray that through God’s grace they are in Your midst celebrating the mystery of your birth, for everyday in Heaven is Christmas and that every person who passes from this earth will be in your presence.

On this Holy night we pray together for the world to be at peace and united in love and that the spirit of Christmas will live on in our daily lives.

Jesus, we ask this in your name, Amen!

To My Mother At Christmas –
You Are My Gift Today And Always
(December 2009)

To my mother the writer, poetic one, special friend and gifted person with words of wisdom always on the tip of her tongue and at her fingertips:

Thank you for being alive with encouraging spirit in Christ as you share so freely your thoughts and feelings with me. You take the time, as no other person has, to engage in delightful, serious, light, deep, and silly conversations always with hints of righteousness and good virtue at heart. You continuously with unending energy and commitment offer yourself to me unselfishly until the wee hours of the morning or night upon a moment’s notice.

I have been blessed tenfold, and was able to recognize it early in my life that you, my earthly spiritual guider, would touch me and others as you have been touched by the graceful hand of Christ.

The words that come to my heart and flow out through to my hands I believe are from the grace of God and they make defining imprints on my life, as you have done for me personally through out all my years. I pray that God keep alive the gift of words that come from places within me that are mortally foreign yet spiritually familiar. However, genetically I believe my gift and inheritance was passed down from and received through your model personal lineage. Good fruit does not fall from the tree.

One’s God given gift must be shared and I encourage you, and all God’s church, to record personal feelings of your faith as you will find that the ever more powerful depth of your beliefs will be revealed through this incredible personal journey and process, albeit on paper, but also made strong through prayer and faith, but one that must be left as a legacy to me, your children and generations to come as we all share in the same hope and are all servants of the Lord.

Always your encouraging responses, reinforcing soulful thoughts and traditional ideals are poignant and insightful and your authored lines come to life in my hungry eyes and offer hope to an imperfect world that I am a part of and I look forward to them with a joyful and expectant heart waiting to absorb, learn and be responsible for what I can take on as my eyes are opened to how I live, where I fall short, and the tribulations of mankind.

It's as if what you articulate so simply comes from peoples' hearts and somehow what you note touches mine and inspiration comes from my core full force. I pray that there are many who feel like you do, and as we admit to our shortcomings, we might go into the untapped depths of our hearts and come out different people, ones that would be eager to please God consistently, even more today than the days past that have already been written in stone.

I don't know if its the decorated pine tree, the white twinkling lights, the special songs that are floating through the vaulted ceilings in my warm home, the wonderful precious moments with my husband that I am savoring, and/or my children and grandchildren that I am near to now that I have been able to spend wonderful snippets of time that is making me feel so complete, tender, cheery, affectionate, lively and of course, teary (sniff, sniff).

What I do know for sure is that the presence of God is with me now and always, and with just that, I know that I am blessed and thankful for what I have today, however great or small, it is what should be for me now for God knows what I need and when.

You are one of my greatest blessings and my cup runneth over with tears, smiles and songs of joy of our memories of the past, heartfelt talks, emotional hugs that could not be described with mere words however eloquent, that I hold in a multitude of tiny hidden crevices in my heart that will remain untouched, safe, and sound forever.

I celebrate Christmas this year, as I have in the past, however with more faith, love and compassion in my heart than ever. Perhaps that comes with age and life's trials, tribulations and triumphs (oh sounds like a great title) and a decidedly greater trust and devotion in my heart to my God, Lord and Savior.

I have faith that there is a Heaven and as I look at the nativity scene with Jesus at its center it brings a reality to the almost unfathomable truth that Jesus' coming gave us the birth right to the inevitability of that special place not of this world, and it will be in that place that I, you, and the believers in Christ, will reunite with all our family, friends, and brothers and sisters who will go before or after us.

It is in Heaven that I see my own father, grandparents and all those who have gone to their rest. I miss him, my father, terribly as do many others and my heart is at times burdened with great grief. But then relief comes when the Lord gently nudges and touches me and He brings me comfort and encouragement to continue on as quickly as my next breath.

The miracle of Christmas is an awe-inspiring gift as it almost magically touches and transforms the spirit of humanity. It’s incredible to witness how its reference and mere existence causes a world to change and the aurora of delight and joy find their way inexplicably into our obscure and many times hardened hearts. With lives well lived and equally days gone awry we are able to incredibly filter, experience and tuck away many depths of a mix of emotions and somehow, for the most part, pull through challenges with good cheer as the season settles upon us.

During this special time of year for many of us, we can sink into personal pain from recollections of our losses in the past, relish in brighter times recalled through photographs and moments embossed in our personal memories, and relive and take pleasure in feelings of delight and contentment for wonderful past times spent.

Sometimes simultaneously, separately, privately, and oddly with no conscious effort of our own, planned out thoughts or routines to move us through the bumps, ups, downs, cracks, or less traveled roads, we can experience the most incredible diverse blend of emotions within ourselves with no real evidence to the world that we’ve been through a whirlwind of memories, experiences, or accounts bitter and sweet, and then somehow our intricate minds bring us back to that spirit of Christmas and an odd stillness and wholeness as mysterious and miraculous as the birth of Jesus consumes us.

That's what peace and love of Christmas is about, the merry times, smooth rides, the roller coaster, the dark days, the insignificant moments that add up to life all incredibly and perfectly blended together in a meringue of hope that creates a comforting warm serenity that relaxes us, a calm and harmonious feeling that sustains us and that is incredibly and euphorically absorbed in our intricate psyche and turns into something wonderfully touching, stirring, pure, white, gentle and as light as whipped cream.

I pray for many healthy years with you, my mother, for there’s so much for us still to share. Also at this time I believe you’d join me in prayer for the people of the world to work toward peace and harmony (such a cliché – however so desperately needed and yet blatantly ignored). We have the blessing of today and the one’s to come, God willing, to make a difference. But more importantly we have this Christmas and a definite tickle under our red noses to remind us that we have the love of God and each other to support us in good times and bad, celebrations and remembrances, in the cold and darkness, in the light and all the times of our lives. We also share in the miracle of life in our present and for our future, and together we can with unity receive the love of Christ and the incredible life to come – all these blessings from our God who so loves the people of the world!

Merry Christmas to you Mom – and if you don’t mind me taking this opportunity to wish a Very Merry Christmas to all the followers of Christ – may your love for Him grow daily, and your heart grow closer in fellowship with your neighbor – a stranger is only a stranger because you haven’t talked, offered your helping hand or acknowledged him just yet. Love the world as Christ showed and loved us.

With all my love and yours in Christ, Me!

(Cec – the eldest of your children, I hoped you knew it was me – just in case – you were unsure – because you do have other incredibly gifted children - who might have such thoughts written in their hearts or in a personal journal about their mother.)

P.S. Thank you Mary, Mother of Jesus, for receiving God’s gift of the incredible blessing on your life and for raising and giving your Son to the world for its salvation!

Inspired by: (Mom - your “coming out” – the world must know what I have known – just smile as I do everyday when I think of you!)

(Here's my mom keeping it real! - Not to worry Mom, your other writings won't be posted here, they'll be in our book!)

Cecelia.... Of course I absolutely loved, loved, loved it (“Writing posted: The Most Wonderful Time of the Year”). All so true. Why are we humans as we are? I hope your message gets to every single being possible. I smiled with pride of course through the entire time reading and agreeing, wishing I hadn't been responsible for the very behavior you write about.

Wouldn't it be lovely, and pleasing to our dear Savior if we all took your Wisdom and Advise and followed it without failure. But, we will read and agree, and feel the warm determination to change because the feeling during this time feels right and so good! (God like of course... ) And of course we become so determined. Oh, we all may try for a time but before you know it.. we go back and slip into old habits without giving it any thought.

I hope we hang on a little longer this time round, because today at this time and under the circumstances many of us are experiencing, never believing we would ever come to walk in these shoes... whatever that may be, of course different for all of us. We all have thought it would never happen to us, to someone else but not us. We need compassion and a God like love of ourselves, for each other, be it not only family but neighbors and strangers.

Well, listen to me going on! If just my prayers would be answered, that your message be read and read again, and that whoever reads it really gets it. That they carry out what at this time of the year comes with ease and with apparent "sincere warmth in their hearts". (You know... you kind of feel it.) I do see and cross paths with a lot of smiling faces and greeting these days, some that I initiate and others actually connect with me first. It's very enjoyable!

Forgive me if I got off message.... Your message is truthful & "WONDERFUL" as always. I got unnecessarily a little carried away. (It's late after midnight so I didn't read this before sending it off to you.)

Well, my darling daughter, I am losing it, but you, you're a "Winner" and I'm humbly proud to be your Mother. I love your work, I know He loves you and I certainly can't imagine how I could love you more!

Of course this note comes from just "Me",

oxox's from your "Mom"

iTs tHe MoSt WoNdErFuL TiMe Of ThE yEaR!

It’s encouraging, uplifting, inspiring, and heartwarming to see how we, the Christian Community, transform every year during the month of December. Soon after the golden brown turkey, tart cranberry relish, and spiced pumpkin pie have been consumed at the Thanksgiving dinner table the wonderful twinkling bright lights then trim our homes and neighborhoods and once a year bring to life the Christmas Season. As a family we shop, transport, and set up fancy or simply decorated fragrant pine trees that house our numerous gifts at its base and it sits prominently in our living rooms temporarily making us feel warmly connected to the cold winter and holiday season.

However, we begin to move further away from the original gift of Christmas as we stand in long lines and lose sleep over a frenzy of special shopping days, stretching ourselves and spending scarce cash to find that perfect gift for everyone on our list “tHiS yEaR”. People are of good cheer (FoR tHe MosT pArT), friends and family make time for visiting each other accepting invitations and attending holiday parties (iF tHey ArEn’T FiGhTiNg AnD iF tHeY cAn FoRgiVe OnE aNoThEr –WoUlD YoU SaY wE ArE A LittLe LeSS ThAn pErFeCt?). We enjoy the warm enticing aroma of sweet sugar and spices that reveal the familiar labors of love and traditions in the kitchen that fill our homes and workplaces year after year. We nibble and nibble and eventually right out gorge on buffet tables of rich foods and desserts and miserably within one month from over indulgence and the lack of physical activity fill in every spare inch of our jeans.

How is it that we can we fill our hearts with joy and excitement during this time of year and then completely detach ourselves and revert back to a place that is neither exhilarating nor mildly over the top pleasurable? What is it that gets turned on inside us and gives us the fearless incentive to placidly or greatly improve our less than perfect attitudes and allows us to express a sense of calmness, patience, compassion and generosity rather than our normal and inconsistent temper, judgmental eyes, and a cool and “Scrooge-like” heart? Why aren’t we participating and enjoying the incredible “gift of giving ourselves” everyday rather than reserving it only for a few short weeks that seem to begin after Thanksgiving Day and ending at the ring-in of the New Year. It’s time to say goodbye to our old limited ways of the past so that we may experience in abundance the “true meaning of Christmas” everyday in our lives!

There is something incredibly powerful and physically intangible about “hope, love and joy” for all of us that is brought to life during the weeks that precede Christmas Day. The almost in-descript feeling of cheer and good tidings is not something discussed and taught in a classroom setting as it is more an imitation of behavior that is passed down through generations of Christian families. Feelings of closeness and thoughtfulness connect us without emotional words. We have now within our power, and more than ever an obligation to our families and friends and for generations to come, to be an example of a living ambassador for Christ. We must earnestly take advantage of each new year, and better yet each day, situation, and moment to keep hope, love and joy alive in our hearts. Living in this caring state of faith, trust and anticipation our lives will naturally touch and connect us to each other and to God.

Our feelings and behavior are shaped by our “attitudes” and “mindsets”. We hear from television commercials and songs that Christmas is the most wonderful time of the year! We buy into the idea of “be of good cheer” as a natural way to feel only during “the holidays”. Well here’s a novel idea for all 12 months, “be a good model and of good cheer all the days of your life.” Simple positive actions and attitudes speak louder than words or philosophies. Consistency and confidence in the name of goodness and righteousness will always win out over a self-serving way of thinking, mild and morally wrong approach, weak or negative point of view. Be steady, unswerving, unfailing, and regularly in concert with others for their benefit, and see how the world around you improves and progresses. Yes, you might get a few critical sets of eye balls rolling back into their sockets, and a few determined downers trying to kill your happy spirit or others who are just filled with evil beyond help, but do not let that discourage you. Turn away if you have to, spend less time with them if necessary, but be consistent in deed, strength and courage and your good character will be catching and a sought after model to imitate. With your improved virtuous, bright, and insightful attitude you will find that there is more to be discovered about your uplifting faith, your truer self, and those whose lives you richly and poignantly touch.

The terms “The Holidays” and “Happy Holidays” have become widely used catch phrases that have been projected and almost intravenously injected into our homes, bodies and minds to include different religious celebrations which may be part of the reason why we have a less than passionate mindset toward acknowledging and celebrating Christ’s birth. Christ’s birth has become for many a less than worthy mentionable ingredient in a melting pot of money making retail sales days that is recognized and rated by how much consumers have spent rather than on the depth and celebration of one’s faith for their future through their Lord and Savior’s birth. Come alive PeOpLE! Take Christmas back! Be bold and speak of Christ and offer words filled with blessings and faith for our future. Share thoughts like “Isn’t the work of God incredible? To think that God created and sacrificed His Son in our image and for our sake, then Jesus following through for us and unselfishly gave His life from crib to cross to provide “the way” to join us to God in Heaven. What a blessing we all have an opportunity to share in. May we live in harmony and share in God’s gift of life.”

Gripped in all the hoopla surrounded by decorating, shopping, parties, food, and exchanging presents we naively, mistakenly, or inadvertently might ignore the fact that on Christmas Day it is actually Jesus’ Birthday that we should be celebrating. Many of us fail to pay homage or honor to Him by a “religious tradition or act” outside of a Christmas Day Mass if we can get ourselves out of bed after a late eve party. Take proactive steps to put “Christ” at the center of your celebrations changing the less than noteworthy past into a new praiseworthy and profound memory and experience for you, your family and friends. Mindfully prepare ahead for a “new religious” Christmas tradition. Exchange a small religious gift, like a cross, medal, bible, nativity set, spiritual book, or join a prayer group, church spiritual class held during Advent, and/or attend a “posada” or “novena” held in your own neighborhood or at your church. Bring “Christ” back into Christmas.

Speak to everyone for they are your brothers and sisters in Christ! Don’t ignore others and limit your relationships because God would never do that to you! Enjoy all encounters whether they are a brief moment in time or a life long friendship. The simplest “hello” can make a world of difference to a lonely person. A “compliment” could draw a smile from an aching heart. A “kind gesture” could make someone’s day! Don’t be shy, instead be “bold” in the name of Jesus. Do as “He would” and others will see the life of Christ in you! Always say “yes” when you can. Enjoy the gift of versatility knowing that your choices, routine and busy schedule can be rearranged at almost any time to bring comfort, aid or shelter to another. Take the “spotlight” off of you and redirect its light to that of another and enjoy the experience of the wonderful things that will happen to your giving soul!

Let us with renewed energy in our core, discipline on our tongues, and substance in our hearts display for all to see the reverence, respect and honor of our excitement and love for God, Jesus Christ His Son and the Holy Spirit.

Start now to begin to make changes in the way you and your family spend the days that lead up to one of the holiest days of the Christian calendar year. Rest, set straight, humble your hearts, and find comfort and peace in our God during the four weeks of the Advent Season as we joyfully prepare for Jesus’ coming. Spend more quiet time in prayer and you will experience a profound maturity in the depth of your faith and spirit that always has room for growth and nurturing.
Rejoice and be glad for this is a new day and beginning! Discover who you really are as you move through your renewed life and journey in faith and grow closer to God’s church, which is “you and the community of people in your house, church, workplace, neighborhood, state, nation, and which literally extends around the world!”

Every day is a blessing! Jesus Christ is our Lord and Savior and thus, everyday “with JESUS”iS tHe MoSt WoNdErFuL TiMe Of ThE yEaR !

Inspired by Matthew 11:28-30

Jesus said, “Come to me, all you that are weary and are carrying heavy burdens, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me; for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.”

Smile

Smile

Do not be afraid that you will not enter the kingdom of heaven. Your opportunity is now, in this moment, to make changes that will please God. Prepare yourself for you are equipped with knowledge and know now what has been said to all through the Gospels. Act quickly and with a defined plan to truthfully educate, reform, rejuvenate, invigorate, refresh, restore, and revitalize your thoughts, attitudes and actions.

Walk only forward toward God’s light turning your back to past days of darkness. Triumph over all temptations to hold on to complaints and negativity. Take steps that elevate you and others so that you will stand confidently and unwavering in your faith against rains, floods, and winds that dare to try to knock you down or steer you down a rocky path.

You are great in God’s eyes. Show Him that you are mindful, thankful, and grateful for the daily blessings provided for you. Smile. The love of God will emerge and come to light from your being and your confidence will conquer all that dares to defeat you.

Oh, do it again. Smile :)

Matthew 7:21, 24-27

Jesus said to his disciples:“Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’will enter the Kingdom of heaven,but only the one who does the will of my Father in heaven. “Everyone who listens to these words of mine and acts on them will be like a wise man who built his house on rock. The rain fell, the floods came,and the winds blew and buffeted the house. But it did not collapse; it had been set solidly on rock. And everyone who listens to these words of minebut does not act on themwill be like a fool who built his house on sand. The rain fell, the floods came,and the winds blew and buffeted the house. And it collapsed and was completely ruined.”

SHoUt iT FrOm ThE RoOf TopS!

We HaNg on the WoRdS of many in oUr TiMe for our NeXt trend or CoUrSe of action. We look to Wall StrEEt and other prOfeSSionals for the DiReCtiOn and value of oUr economy, FinaNCes, and rEal eStAte. We place LaRgE weight on tHe President’s speeches for the FuTuRe of our country aNd to the Department oF Defense for PrEdiCtiONs on wars. We HaNG on for the aNNounCeMent of the nExT economic stimulus check to ArRivE in our mailboxes, CaR rebate or special LoW interest rate loan ModiFiCAtiOn program. We wAiT with bated bReAtH for aNNual fAshiOn sHows for the LaTesT trends in cLoTHinG and tHe cOlOrs of the next SeAsOn. We use our hard earned CaSh to sEll oUt magazines for the AnNoUnCemEntS of the most beAuTiful peOple. We cLeAr our calendars to Sit and EaT muNcHies as the PrEttY StArS fill oUr tElEviSion screeNs while aWard shows announce ToP hOnOrs in movies, music and tElEviSion series. We sit for HoUrS On End at oUr computers and laptops CoNNectEd to the InTeRnEt to see what online VidEos are being WaTcHeD and what mUsic will bE released tHis WeEk. We closely FoLLoW radio prograMMing to LiSteN for the nExT music celebrity song so that we can WiN TicKeTS for a sought after cOncert. WhErE in all this HoOpLa, we call LiFE, is our ExCiTeMeNt over where wE wiLL gO when iT’s aLL oVeR? How aRe we preparing DaiLy for the most iMpORtaNt TiMe in our lives to cOmE? MOrE importantly, wHoSe WoRdS will we HaNg on to when man’s FaBriCaTiOnS will matter no MoRe?

OnE dAy all the inveNtions, eVents, and TechNolOGy will have no EffEct on our LiVes. Our “bEiNg” will end one day SoON, much later in LiFe, suddenly without NoTiCe, or sLoWLy over time. We should EnJoY the present, of course, but be iNteLLigEnt, LiVE Smart, leave rOOm for the really ReAllY important MaTTerS that mAttER.

How do you fEEl about ineViTable DeAtH? Does it sound DiRe to you? StOp! NO! It’s nOt! PLeaSE, rEaLLy iT’S oKAy! You WoULnDn’T feel like tHaT if you KnEW and HaD aN iNkLiNg of what is WaiTiNG for yOu in GOD’s KiNgDoM.

Do yOu reMeMbEr JESUS? He DiEd and went to HeAvEn for . . . US!!!! (hello – our DeStiNy- your dEStiNy - you’re getting this right?) God’s is wAiTiNg for yOu to do your HoMEwoRk on the HistORy of your FaiTH (uhhh the BiBLe – available in soFt bAck, haRdbAck and inTerNet - jUsT SaYiNg). Spend TiMe each day getting HyPeD uP about YoUr FaiTh and yOur InHeRiTaNcE (no - not mOnEy – perHAps you should lOOk into that first – it’s OkAY – we all haVe to sTart SomEWheRe - there’s so MuCH we’ve yet to learn). Of course, enjoy the FrUiTs of man’s LaBoR (GOD did give us InTeLLiGeNcE after all), but also ENjoY what GOD has CrEaTed for you and TaLK aBOut IT! MaYBe sHOUt iT FrOM thE RooF tOpS (well OnLY if you are CoMfORTaBlE with that SoRt oF THinG! There are some rEaLLy StRAngE peOplE in the wOrLd who wOuld do tHat – I knOw – try not to roLL your eyes At ThEM.)

This EaRTh -- where you LiVe -- was oriGinaLLy destined to be HeAvEn, the GaRdEn Of EdEen – PaRaDiSe (You’ve heard the story riGht? RiGHt? Ugggh. . . I thought so.). So we’ve messed up our PaRadiSE a little (Well, a LOT!!!), but we can clEaN up our aCt, right? We can ReSEt our priorities? Yes? YeS? Ahhhhh, YES!!!! (Wheeew! Sometimes you worry me.)
BRiNg BaLaNcE to your liFe. Begin each day in PrAyEr thanking GOD for the LiFe He has giVen you. ThInK of Him at MeAl TiME, DRiviNG TiMe, and CoMpUteR TiME, heck - - ANYTimE!!!

Do ReSeArch to help expAnd and SoLiDifY your BeLiEfS. EnJoy the BeAuTy of the wOrLd He cReAtEd for yOu by SLoWing down from aLL the “bUsy BuSy”. Enjoy His ChUrCh, the physical oNe and tHe Body (the BoDy = YoU and mE – faMiLy-fRiEnDs-StRaNgErS - togEtHer - PeOPle = Body = stay with me nOw!)

There are many OppORtuNiTiES you can take AdVanTAge of EvEryDay to tAlk about JESUS too. TaLk about how HE treated eVeRYoNe with DiGniTy, PaTiEnCe and CoMpAssiOn. And then, (here’s a nOvel idEa) ImiTAtE HIM! TaLK about HIM FrEElY and BoLdLy! Not EvEry time you have a CoNveRsaTioN, of coUrse, but wHen you can, offer coMfOrtiNG words to oTHers and pOint out their bLeSSinGS! Oohhhh, ooooh, ohhhhh, or how about this - bE a bLeSSiNg to sOmeOne else! Now thAt’s tAkiNg it to tHe neXt lEvEl. (What do you think JESUS, huh – huh - - good ideas are coming!). The MoRe you lOOk for DiviNe WoNDerS, the more you’ll sEE.

JESUS is not a cOOl SeCrEt to be kept UnDeR wRaPS or only MeNtiONed when your HeAD hits the PillOw for a SoUnD sLeeP. Nor is He sOMeOne we only tALk about on His BiRtHdAy (His biRtHday – ChRisTmAs DaY – DEcEmbEr 25th – EvEry YeAr – DuH -- I know you KnEW that – coFFee kiCkiNg in yEt? – gO aHeAd – dRiNk just a tAd mOre!). Jesus was “tHe MaN” who shOwEd us the wAy to sAlvAtion- our SaLvAtiOn! Hello – anYbOdy out tHere? Oh, there yOu are – I thouGht you were . . . neVer miNd.

Get all sTiRRed uP over the FaCt that God, the GrEatEst PoWeR of this world (actually not of this WoRLd – He actually LivEs somewhere else – weLL – don’t worry - you’ll get it), is working for you 24/7. Show HiM the LoVe and tHat You’VE got YoUr AcT tOGethEr and gRoWinG in FaiTh eVerYdAy! When yOu do – you’LL nOtiCe How’S He’S bEEn and wiLL conTiNue to TaKE cARe of you EveRyDay of your LiFE and in the nExT (“in tHe Next” = “EtErNiTY” for those of you who are having A brain frEEze!)

It’s TiMe for uS to prEpAre our HeArTs, MiNds and SoULs for what’s to cOmE. It’s such an eXciTiNg JoUrNey we are on, are yOu ready for yOur FuTUre? I can’t HeAR yOu! Are you ReAdy? Uhhhh, try again. Are YoU ReAdy? Yes – that’s what I’m TaLKinG about – eXciTEd peOpLe – I’m impreSSed – whAt do You tHiNK LORD – they’re lOOkiNg GooD aren’t tHey? Yeah, r-e-a-l-l-y ShaPiNG Up! ThEy AllmOst LooK sPellBoUnd – I tHiNk YoU jUst MiGhT Be tHe NexT BiG CrazE to Hit SoCietY. (Yes – JESUS - I kNow FaiTh iS nOt a tEmpoRarY tHing – bUt tHey’LL get it – they wiLL learn a liTTle MoRe each dAy and oVer tiMe You’LL see tHe diFFerEnCe – giVe us sOme time LORD – really – We’LL keep wOrKing tOgEther . . . – hello fRiEnds hElp me hErE – tEll JESUS HOw You WAnt Him in YOur Life and How yOu will hElp othErs to come along tOO – aggggh – thank you. HE likes it wHen we wOrk in gRoUps – we have leSS roOm to stray.)

HallElUjaH! Now rUn ALonG and go teLL the WoRld about GOD and HIS SON JESUS! (yes -- YOU! – You CAN do iT – YES. . . YOU CAN. . . – go on now - one B-a-B-Y StEP at a time - people are WaiTiNG for direction – YoUr DiReCtiOn - you are the AppOiNTed LeADer – yOu go on now you LiTtLE aMbAsSaDoR fOr ChRisT yOu!)

I lOve it – PeoPle who BeLiEvE in GOD do gReAt ThiNGs when they sEt their MinDs to iT!
I’m PrOUd of yOu. You didn’t QUit ReADinG – you kept going with “oNe wORd, OnE tHouGHT, oNe BrEatH, OnE MinD, ONE BodY, OnE SpiRiT – that’s all it takes - - One SiTUatiOn at A tiMe! ShOw the WoRld how you’re LiVinG and WhEre you’re gOing. ThAt’s it bAby – make tHis the HeAvEn on eaRtH and lOOk foRwArd to YoUr EtErNiTy and BeYoNd!

(HoNEy - How CaN I GEt On Top oF tHe ROOF? It doesn’t matter what I’m going to do . . . I can use a ladder Dear! Fine! He doesn’t want me to get hurt, huh! He’s always trying to steal my joy! I’ll go and get my neighbor Jesus (He-Suuuss) to hElP me – I saw hiM up tHeRe yesTeRday! Heee, heee, heee – where thErE’s a will – thErE’s a way!

Uggggh – Is thErE somEtHing wrOng with your EyEs? They lOOk like they were like r-O-l-l-i-N-g back in their SocKeTs – I don’t know – it looked K-i-N-d of oDD? Maybe yOu should go gEt them CheCked – it just doEsN’t seem nOrMal to me! YOuR right, they’ll proBaBly be beTTer toMoRRow. SlEEp gOOd tOnigHt aNd Say a liTTle prAyer – it AlwaYs woRks for mE!)


Inspired by Luke 19:45-48

“Then Jesus entered the temple and began to drive out those who were selling things there; and he said, ‘It is written, “My house shall be a house of prayer”; but you have made it a den of robbers.’ Everyday he was teaching in the temple. The chief priests, the scribes, and the leaders of the people kept looking for a way to kill him; but they did not find anything they could do, for all the people were spellbound by what they heard.”

It’s Like A Warm Blanket Right Out Of The Dryer!

It’s Like A Warm Blanket Right Out Of The Dryer!

This may sound crazy, but get your favorite blanket and toss it in the dryer. Get it all nice and warm. Is it warm yet? Okay, now get the blanket out and wrap it around you. Just do what I say (gee whiz – everyone’s got to know why!) Okay, now that you are all wrapped in warmth I would like you to read on.

Recall the day you felt at peace with a situation in your life. Think back to the time you felt tranquility after a tough job well done. Remember when you experienced freedom from strife after a hard decision. Call back the harmony that enveloped you after reconciling a relationship. Bring to mind the calm that filled you after your recovery from a financial crisis. Remember the unity you felt after prayers with family and friends were answered after an accident or surgery for a love one. Wrap yourself again in the serenity you felt after the acceptance of the death of a loved one. So great is the feeling of peace.

Jesus came and said to us, “Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you. Not as the world gives do I give it to you. Do not let your hearts be troubled or afraid.” John 14:27

Why only accept Jesus’ peace after you have put yourself through turmoil? Take His peace from the beginning of your plight. Be the first to surrender with harmony on your lips over a battle of views on life. Fight back immediately against injustice with goodness in your heart and a kind act. When hearing gossip against another, defend their dignity with decency and kindness in words. When you see someone struggling to move an object or load their car with groceries rush to their aid with thoughtfulness and consideration. When tragedy strikes immediately gather people and pray together in faith and then give thanks to God for his love and mercy. When you lose your favorite piece of jewelry, your computer crashes or your cell phone dies remember immediately they are just material things and turn your thoughts to God giving thanks that you still have your health, a good life and a roof over your head. When you’ve lost your job and pickings are slim, be persistent in faith knowing that God has a better job lined up for you. When you don’t know where your next meal is coming from and you find yourself opening canned foods from your pantry refuse to have self-pity, and instead humble your heart and fill it with joy giving thanks to Jesus that he promised never to leave you and through your faith in Him you will get through this too. When you get angry at your children, spouse, parents or friends over their inconsiderate acts or disappointing views on life immediately pray for them and do as Jesus did, be the good example and let your actions speak for you.

Welcome the peace that Jesus offers to you and absorb its warmth as it infiltrates into every aspect of your life. Hallelujah! There is a God.

What a wonderful life you have. Only blessings, bright sunshine and beautiful rainbows shall follow you all the rest of your life.

Can you feel it? Aaaggghhhh, the peace! It’s like a warm blanket right out of the dryer.


Inspired by Psalm 16:7-11

"I bless the Lord who counsels me; even in the night my heart exhorts me. I set the Lord ever before me, with him at my right hand I shall not be disturbed. Therefore my heart is glad and my soul rejoices, my body, too, abides in confidence; because you will not abandon my soul to the nether world, nor will you suffer your faithful ones to undergo corruption. You will show me the path to life, fullness of joy in your presence, the delights at your right hand forever.”

THINGS THAT MAKE YOU GO HMMMMM!


"There is time for everything."

-Thomas A. Edison



"Much may be done in those little shreds and patches of time which every day produces, and which most men throw away."

-Charles Caleb Colton



"An earnest purpose finds time, or makes it. It seizes on spare moments, and turns fragments to golden account."

-William Ellery Channing



"What we love to do we find time to do."

- John Lancaster Spalding

There Is More To Life Than Meets The Eye

We are destined to be blind until we decide to see! “What? I’m not blind! WhAt ChU tAlKiNg AbOuT?” “To see, or not to see,” that is the question. Perhaps we are not “blind” in the literal sense, but we may unknowingly “lack vision” with respect to our true potential in our life’s journey in faith. We may not have exercised adequate forethought, foresight or sensitivity in developing fulfilling unconditional love in long term relationships with close ones and the brief encounters with strangers who’s path we cross everyday. We may lack confidence in believing we deserve and can experience the gift of a holy existence that is intended for us. We may think we are not worthy like saints or that we must be blessed with supreme images and extraordinary eye-opening revelations to understand and accept that we can be at ease with offering ourselves in compassion and deeds just as Jesus did throughout His life for the sake of others. Today let us abandon our old selves and be renewed with intuitive light in our eyes, putting forth a fresh attitude toward life, and greet and lead a revitalized spirit inside.

Many of us are blind to the not so obvious truth about the lack of morality, decency, righteousness and self-worth in today’s society. Although the behavior of man has not changed much over the course of thousands of years we are still at a pivotal point in time in our lives. This is the time to decide to spiritually live or we can turn our backs and mortally die.

Naively or with deliberate intentions our negative and pessimistic attitudes have become our new normal and have blotted out true goodness and genuineness of heart. We are part of a world where love for others has become in part “conditional” promoting self serving attitudes and demeaning and degrading behavior toward others ultimately causing harm to the spirit. Refuse to allow good virtues to become extinct. We must take action to not only preserve a high caliber of respect and value of other’s lives, dignity and feelings but also provide a culture where goodness is preferred over bad vices and be able to sustain a place where their growth will flourish and prevail over the evil we dwell in today.

We must reassess and come to terms with the areas in our lives in need of spiritual healing that can reconcile us with each other over past grievances, settle unfair claims amicably, remove malice from our hearts, restore our health, faith, ill attitudes, foul mouths, judging eyes, and hardened hearts. When our conscience is filled and active with good morals and values, only then can we move forward to serve and love God and each other. There is nothing God will not forgive a sorrowful, seeking and faithful heart. Therefore, turn to God and be free from all that hinders you.

There is SoMeThiNg in all of our lives that could use TwEaKiNg, and God above all knows we are not perfect! We have an opportunity today to wake up from our slumber to take an honest look at ourselves and realize there is more to our being and in our potential than that which has previously posed itself before us and as we have chosen see it through our eyes. Where do you start and who in the “world” is going to help you move forward? Jesus!

God created Jesus in His image and sent Him here to teach us about a world yet to come. “Just as the living Father sent me and I have life because of the Father, so also the one who feeds on me will have life because of me.” John 6:57. The more we educate ourselves with God’s word, pray, listen, and imitate Jesus the more content we will be in our walk in faith and the more we will please God.

With humble hearts let’s give thanks to God by stepping out of our comfort zones and march with defined intent into a life worth living, where the rewards of giving free of self will change us. We can work together connecting God’s people as one united body to our Father with our caring hands and committed hearts that reach out to touch others. We are a part of His church and with our renewed selves the face of the earth is destined to change preparing us for the greater gift of life to come seen through the hope and life of Jesus Christ.

Go to God’s Son for help. He was brought here for you! Ask Him for what you need! Use Him! He’s waiting for you to STOP FROM ALL THE BUSYNESS OF YOUR LIFE THAT KEEPS YOU FROM HIM. Carve out some quiet time and do some serious soul searching. Pray over your transgressions and sinful indulgences of life and ask for forgiveness and guidance. There is no need to wait until tomorrow or to wait until you hit rock bottom to make a change. In the silence you will hear the hope He offers to us all, “What do you want me to do for you?” It is when you ask you will receive. When you have given yourself, your troubles and your life to Him you will be able to see, hear, and experience what you have been missing and you will know in your heart, mind and spirit where it is you are destined to go.

Each day is a gift and we must respond in humble acceptance and immense thanksgiving. Let’s extend our arms and hands upward with great praise, hope and spirit to receive our intended gift of life. Together let us be humble servants and noble witnesses with voices proclaiming God’s blessings, glory and mercy on our lives. With our “giving” open hearts as our foundation we are providers and instruments of “love”, one of the greatest gifts of life. How wonderful to be able to join in like voices with all the angels, saints, and your brothers and sisters to proclaim a spiritual principle that will live on forever with God’s faithful, “Once I was blind, but now I see.”

May your renewed spirit and deepened prayers of thanksgiving remain in your sight every day of the year and the love you share and receive shall transcend into eternal life!



Inspired by
Luke 18:35-43

“As he approached Jericho, a blind man was sitting by the roadside begging. When he heard a crowd going by, he asked what was happening. They told him, ‘Jesus of Nazareth is passing by.’ Then he shouted, ‘Jesus, Son of David, have mercy on me!’ Those who were in front sternly ordered the man to be brought to him; and when he came near, he asked him, “What do you want me to do for you?” He said, “Lord, let me see again.” Jesus said to him, ’Receive your sight; your faith has saved you.’ Immediately he regained his sight and followed him, glorying God; and all the people, when they saw it, praised God.”

The World Is A Better Place Because You Are In It!

The World Is A Better Place Because You Are In It!

There are people that do wonderful things for you and others everyday. They may be big like helping out with your mortgage payment or treating you for a really special night on the town. Perhaps grandma stayed with your child while you worked or maybe someone spent time with you at the hospital while your spouse endured an operation. Even simple things like remembering you on your birthday, sending you a “just because” thinking of you card, or sending over some fabulous homemade tamales are fine examples of charitable, generous, kind deeds and thoughts.

You may have benefited from someone’s words of wisdom that helped you out in a crunch or in a real emotional situation. Examples of kindnesses are endless.

What’s important to remember is to always thank them. We can sometimes take “nice” for granted. Go the extra mile and praise another individual. Kind words can go a long way. Sometimes finding a way to express your gratitude by a favor returned back or a small gift or token to another would be appropriate. Anything done from the heart is communicated and received with love at its center. Love is where the heart is.

It’s important not to assume some knows how we feel. We have different emotional needs and we can do what we can to insure that a person receives the respect, acknowledgement, and value they deserve. There is no denying that it feels great to know you are not taken for granted.

You are blessed everyday with gifts from God too. Wake up in the morning and take a moment before you jump out of bed and thank God for another day. Whether you are well or ill today is still a blessing. Before you get in your car pause for a few moments and appreciate the beauty around you. Thank God for the splendor of the morning, the sun that warms us, or the rain that aids in growth. As you rest quietly in bed and before you close your eyes for a restful night, assess the day’s events and give thanks to God for all the ways He was present in your life.

Of course, God comes through in big ways too. His hands touch many people to make a job promotion possible. He worked many years and saw you through many relationships before he was finally able to bring your mate into your life. And let’s not forget the miraculous creation and blessing of a child.

Thank God for things that may seem trite like green lights all the way to work when you woke up late or the near miss of someone rear ending you or perhaps more crucial things like the recovery and healing from a dangerous operation or a deadly disease.

Take ordinary moments and realize how they are unquestionably gifts of peace from God. Respond in thanks by continuing to bring positive energy in your life and the lives of others. Your praise and faith in God’s presence in your life will bring abundant blessings to you.

Thank you to all those I know personally and to those that I may never meet for taking time out of your blessed day to praise God, read scripture, stories and ideas, and for returning time after time being open to change. Thank you for seeing yourself and being bold and caring enough to release yourself from old bad habits and allowing God to work on you, for encouraging others, being a positive example, and for giving me the opportunity to share the gifts I believe God has bestowed on my life.

The world, my world, is a better place because you are in it!


Inspired by Luke 17:11-19

“On the way to Jerusalem Jesus was going through the region between Samaria and Galilee. He entered a village, ten lepers approached him. Keeping their distance, they called out, saying, ‘Jesus, Master, have mercy on us!’ When he saw them, he said to them, ‘Go, and show yourselves to the priests.’ And as they went, they were made clean. Then one of them, when he saw that he was healed, turned back, praising God with a loud voice. He prostrated himself at Jesus’ feet and thanked him. And he was a Samaritan. Then Jesus asked, ‘Were not ten made clean? But the other nine, where are they? Was none of them found to return and give praise to God except this foreigner?’ Then he said to him, ‘Get up, and go on your way; your faith has made you well.’”

Who Could Ask For Anything More

Who Could Ask For Anything More

THEM: “I can’t”. “I don’t know how.” “It’s too hard.” “I don’t know where to start.” “It’s just not in me!” “I’m not good enough.” “I don’t have money.” “I’m the wrong sex.” “It’s tough, I’m a single parent.” “My car is older than my great grandmother.” “I can’t afford to buy a house.” “I don’t come from a family with money like he does.” “I want to have a diamond ring that big too.” “I want designer clothes but I can’t afford them.” “She says one thing and does another.” “He only thinks of himself.” “I’m not their only child.” “She’s supposed to do things for me, she’s my wife.” “Why do they always look to me?” “I have my own problems.” “I have better things to do with my time.”

YOU: Those people! They make excuses, criticize, grumble, gripe, whine, complain and find fault with everything! Truly, is this the way they want to spend their time and life? Ugghhh, they need to stop already! I know == I know == it’s not you,

ME: It never is.

YOU: but . . . . you just might know one of these people. I know you already know what to do. But for their sake, let’s go out on a limb and put some ideas out there that they can work with. Let’s try and help out a brother or a sister, shall we?

THEM: Why do you complain? (Because I can!) Does it feel good? (Yeah, sometimes!) What is it that you are protesting? (The unfairness of it all!) Does it improve anything? (My ulcer!) Does anything positive come from it? (uuuhhhhmmm . . .)

Who are you fooling? Life feels lousy when you let it get you down. Don’t waste your time sulking, brooding, or being stuck in a funk. Take affirmative action that will change your life forever.

YOU: They really do want to change. Don’t listen to them. Do you hear me?!!

THEM: Take the negative focus off of life and replace it with optimistic, encouraging, upbeat, and positive thoughts. “That’s all.”

ME: I feel like Meryl Streep in the Devil Wears Prada, “That’s all”.

THEM: Greet hard times with a smile. Replace a gripe with a plan. Don’t pine for things beyond your reach. Help someone even if they seem to not want to help themselves. If life throws you a wild curve, duck for goodness sake!

You have the gift of this new day and a marvelous chance to change it up. Not only that, you possess God given gifts that can change not only your life but the lives of those you touch. You have a competent mind that will keep you on the right track. You possess a heart designed for giving and compassion. You have a conscience that deciphers between right and wrong. Truly your future is bright. Just decide to be happy. Yes, it’s as easy as that!

YOU: Now that we have that out of the way, do you think we can move on and make some progress here? I know it’s hard sometimes to pump someone up, isn’t it? But what are friends for, right?

THEM: You don’t need an elaborate plan and it doesn’t matter where you start or who you start with. Just get moving in the right direction.

Jump start your new self by spawning a holy attitude, “I am a part of the great family of God. He has given me the grace of special gifts.”

Look at the people around you. You can probably point out many of their gifts. (I said gifts, not faults, stay with me here people!) There are great teachers, listeners, helpers, nurturers, designers, organizers, planners, doers, leaders, motivators, and speakers. There are great watch and wine makers, sculptures, cooks, housekeepers, readers, athletes, representatives, musicians, artists, and comedians. Others are good with children, handicapped, animals, or the terminally ill. Still others have great faith, extreme patience, positive outlooks, and warm and welcoming smiles. The list goes on and on. There is no trait or attribute too small or ridiculous worth mentioning. God has given gifts to all. AND HE’S BLESSED YOU WITH GIFTS TOO!

So what about you? (not YOU, THEM, you people are easily tripped up – why is that?) Take some time away from your routine and do a little soul searching. Stand in front of the mirror and find out who you are. Examine yourself good and long.

Look into your eyes. Find the compassion, the years of experience, the warmth, the knowledge you possess. Know that they have encouraged, cheered, and supported. They may have even comforted in times of misunderstandings, disappointment, distress and mourning.

Look closely at your lips. Realize they are tender and offer much reassurance. Smile at yourself, frown, pout and then smile again. Realize what makes you come to life. Take pride in knowing that from your lips you have consoled, laughed, and offered life lessons. They have tangled with and spoken of disenchantment, frustration, regrets and set backs, but have recovered again and again offering words of reasoning, negotiation and healing.

Appreciate your strong back and shoulders. Note how they have carried you and others through many trials, triumphs and celebrations.

Examine your hands, legs and feet. They have created, hugged, caressed, walked, and ran to the aid of many. You have done things for others that you are not even aware of. YoU ArE sPeCiAl.

I know we have some family and friends that think a good productive time is being alone or sitting behind the television with the remote rooted to their hand like a bad wart. There is no way they will find out anything about themselves or anyone else for that matter by remaining there. Call a family meeting (dinner) often, designate a game night, host a once a month just because family and friends potluck party, something, anything!

Hmmmm, need ideas for the gu – person with the remote stuck in his hand. You could hide the remote? Unplug the television? Stop paying the cable (too harsh?) Make a rule that the TV should not be turned on until 9pm? You’ll think of something.

Listen to what others say about you. We compliment each other all the time. However, many of us do not r-e-a-l-l-y listen.

You: Some of THOSE OTHER PEOPLE will not like what they hear. That’s okay. We can all use a little slap in the face == I mean eye opener == now and then. Little by little they will change. Others will notice and so will you. We can do our part and take time out to praise and reward people for their growth in mind and spirit.

THEM: Go a step further and do more of what you already enjoy doing now. Pay attention to
You, how your gifts shine, and how they can help someone else.

Enhance the qualities or peculiarities that makes you – well you! If you make a mistake, blunder, slip-up or oversight, so what! God will forgive you when you misstep. Need a model, look to Jesus. You have saints who have paved the way. You have others who live among you who are inspirational – use them. You have the bible that gives all the guidance you need. Live by it!

Wow, things happen fast. I see you smiling now. Your eyes look bright and cheery. Happiness is contagious, isn’t it? Who could ask for anything more! Go get ‘em tiger!

YOU: Well, we finally got through that! Do you think we got through to them? If not, there’s always tomorrow, right? Now, now . . . there’s no giving up on anybody. Some people will take longer than others to come around. Be patient.

ME: Patience, isn’t that a gift God gives everyone? Maybe not. Well, it’s something that they are all just going to have to work on. I thought we were so past this . . . Huuuuuuuuhhhhh . . .

YOU: By the way, don’t forget to put away that mirror. You look great by the way. I like your smile and your outlook . . . I don’t know . . . somehow you seem different. Well, whatever it is, I like it!

ME: Hhhhhmmm, where is my mirror?

P.S. YOU: By the way, people look up to you because of your fine values and morals and they seek your superior advice. No pressure! You’ll know what to say and do when the situation presents itself. You have God, Jesus, the litany of saints, the bible, the choir of angels, church, priests, your guardian angel and a host of other valuable resources to help you. I have faith in you!

ME: What is my gift? I’ll just keep writing for now. I can’t think of anything else I’d rather be doing. I love it! “That’s all.”


Inspired by: Romans 12:5-7

“We, who are many, are one body in Christ, and individually we are members one of another. We have gifts that differ according to the grace given to us; prophecy, in proportion to faith; ministry, in ministering; the teacher, in teaching; the exhorter, in exhortation; the giver, in generosity; the leader, in diligence; the compassionate, in cheerfulness.”

PRAYER FOR ALL SOULS

PRAYER FOR ALL SOULS

Dear God in Heaven,

On this day we pray for our loved ones,
And all those who have gone before us.

We pray especially for . . .

Gilbert Delgado, Manuel Delgado, Cecilia Delgado, Ray Delgado, Leo Delgado, Paul Delgado, Joe Regalado, Angel Bernal, Rosalie Bernal, Maria Bernal, Esperanza Ponce, Chano Fierro, Amina Fierro, Laurel Fierro, Albert Holling, Sr., Celia Hollling, Albert Holling, Jr., Johnny Sanchez, Rod Nuanes, Sr., Emma Nuanes, David Nuanes, Gonzalo (“Jerry”) Guerrero, Francisco (Quico) Escobar, Juliet Montez, Richard Montez, Sal Medina, Celso Castro, Yvonne Castro, Bob Sanchez, Peter Sanchez, Elaine Sanchez, Melvin Lay, Nena Lay, Dario Tarin, Margaret Melendez, Patricia Santana's grandmother and Leisa Thompson's parents, and for all those who have gone to their rest in the hope of rising again.

They have lived their journey here on earth
And now dwell in the next, we pray for your mercy.

We ask that the less than worthy conduct, acts,
and thoughts of all are forgiven them,
and that their charitable hearts and righteous deeds
You will find worthy for Your Kingdom.

You gave your Son to us and he suffered greatly,
So that we may know You and be raised as He was.
May the holy souls of your church be cleansed and purified,
Allowing their entry into Heaven to be brought to fruition.

May all the departed now be in a state of grace
And sit at Jesus’ right hand to inherit the kingdom of God.
May we, the living, be prepared for the day when,
The Son of Man comes in his glory and all the angels with him.

Amen.

This Is Where You Belong

This Is Where You Belong

Many people insecurely grapple with their sense of belonging. They feel isolated, detached, separated, and disconnected from people, communities, their immediate surroundings or humanity as a whole.

There are days we seek ambitiously, with mediocrity, or by a hair’s breadth to connect with our own families, churches, or the workplace. Some of us have little to no relationships that fulfill or bind us to each other, while others seem naturally to have an abundance of friendships.
Even if we feel happy or satisfied with our lives now, there comes a somber time when a crisis hits, a relationship is close to divorce, an illness invades our body, or when a death occurs and you ask, “Is this all there is?”

What in our lives makes life worthwhile, vital, or essential? What relationship is meaningful, worthy, or significant? Who or what makes us feel complete? Where do we fit in? What is it that we see or what may we naively be blind to?

Our observations, discernment and judgment influence and sway our minds that shape our moral fiber. It is from these kinds of vision that we create points of view and opinions that are equal, comparable or diverse to that of others.

Our insight and outlook are capable of destroying productive living, marriages and good judgment. Incredibly enough, the vision through these same pair of eyes are also capable of building dreams, character and alliances.

What we observe, how we perceive, our grasp of love, compassion, understanding, and what we set our eyes on will determine how we live out our destiny.

The mental pictures, foresight, and revelations seen through our eyes are so influential that we must take care to not destroy their original divine purpose.

God gave us sight, intuition and a heart to see the beauty of His work and thus be able to be fully joined emotionally and spiritually to God’s holy temple and each other, gifts that were designed to complete us.

Sadly humanity has since Adam and Eve changed perfection to that of fault finding, negativity, debauchery, and immorality. We can’t go back thousands of years or even a day to change the practicing faith and principles of the world, but we can begin today on a personal rebirthing process that could touch and change this world, one minute, one day and one person at a time, thus affecting the world’s future faith and spiritual evolution.

It is in the depth of our faith and inner spirit that changes our lives. So powerful that our spirit connects us to something that is not physically tangible. Yet, it is real and it touches us as it unites to faith that joins to a relationship with God that is far more supreme than one that can be experienced between two people.

The physical labor and efforts to belong to God’s holy temple is not yours to seek to obtain for you are already spiritually joined in this place.

Absorb yourself into what is already yours. Take comfort in knowing you are among blessed people, who are by birthright, heirs to everything that God has created. Although there are many people in his kingdom, be assured you are never in competition with another for his attention or affection. God is available 24/7 so there is no waiting in line to talk to the Head of Holiness or His Son, for we are members of the household of God. He speaks to all who have ears to hear and eyes to see Him. He offers us gifts of riches, hope, and love if we so accept them.

Develop and mature in your beliefs and trust your eyes to see God’s greatness. The sacred heart that you were born and blessed with will reveal itself and follow through your destiny as a disciple of Christ. Your former blind or old sleeping spirit will delight in joy with its new vision and will be led to a greater spirit-filled life, and to the already seeing a more harmonious and heavenly world awaits you.

Because of Jesus Christ you are part of the most divine kingdom. His coming was for us to imitate and is what connects us to His Father. Not only does Christ’s presence, message and death reign over and influence the human race but it connects us to God’s perfect world making us one.

God rejoices in your new beginning, homecoming or continued residency in his dwelling place, for no matter where you are in your journey, you are one of his beloved people and He will always be with you.

God knows you. You are not a stranger, but rather a part of what makes up His holy kingdom. Without you there is a great void.

Know now your family tree and its great lineage. You are a special part of God’s family and this is where you belong.

Inspired by Ephiesians 2:19-22

“So then you are no longer strangers and aliens, but you are citizens with the saints an also members of the household of God, built upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets, with Christ Jesus himself as the cornerstone. In him the whole structure is joined together and grows into a holy temple in the Lord; in whom you also are built together spiritually into a dwelling place for God.”

Take The Stage

Take the Stage

There is no need to reinvent the wheel of our faith, calling, and conduct. The way life should roll has been the same for over 2000 years. However, we act like high-regarded writers and take liberties to keep re-editing God’s script to suit ourselves depending on the day. Yeah – really – we do!

Okay enough of the bad reviews! We need a pick me up – quick- don’t you think? Here’s an act you can follow.

Today take credit for keeping God’s original screenplay in tact. Speak accurately and portray truthfully His characters so that you and your audience will be able to relate to them.
Understand the language, absorb the terms, and polish the expressions so that they flow freely from your mouth.

Commit to memory His poignant words whether they are heartbreaking, tender, moving, emotional, hard-hitting or touching. Act them out. Try them out on a friend.

If you are unsure of the author’s meanings, places to pause, or the proper moment to cut the scene, re-read the words from the manuscript carefully and they will, on their own, find their way into the center of your being.

The more you study, the more the dialect will be on the tip of your tongue. I know you can be prepared and you will get it right before the final curtain goes down!

The world will fall in love with your smile and the confidence you exude even when you are not in the spotlight. You will be the talk of the town and there will be much applause and opportunities for encores!

The Producer-Director and Main Character has great confidence in you. Be ready to take your humble bow for the Supreme Teacher who will witness the best accomplishments of your life!! He will along the way take care of you and your needs and in the end, He will crown you with a suitable reward!

Inspired by Romans 12:9 Mutual Love

“Let love be sincere; hate what is evil, hold on to what is good; love one another with mutual affection; anticipate one another in showing honor. Do not grow slack in zeal, be fervent in spirit, serve the Lord. Rejoice in hope, endure in affliction, persevere in prayer. Contribute to the needs of the holy ones, exercise hospitality. Bless those who persecute you, bless and do not curse them. Rejoice with those who rejoice, weep with those who weep. Have the same regard for one another; do not be haughty but associate with the lowly; do not be wise in your own estimation. Do not repay anyone evil for evil; be concerned for what is noble in the sight of all. If possible, on your part, live at peace with all. Beloved, do not look for revenge but leave room for the wrath; for it is written, ‘Vengeance is mine, I will repay, says the Lord.’ Rather, ‘if your enemy is hungry, feed him; if he is thirsty, give him something to drink; for by so doing you will heap burning coals upon his head.’ Do not be conquered by evil but conquer evil with good.”

Heaven on Earth!

What is heaven? A place created by God for his children, you and I. A place where everything thing is perfect. No pain, tears, no death, nor mourning.

We had that once. And then, with a bite of an apple, whew ---- gone!

We also know that heaven has no place for cowards, the unfaithful, the depraved, murders, the unchaste, sorcerers, idol-worshipers, and deceivers of every sort (see Revelations 21:8). Do you know what their lot in life is? Ah man, their lot is in the burning pool of fire and sulfur, which is the second death – uuggghh that’s way too ugly a death for anyone – especially you!

What’s my point? We have choices. Perhaps we are not living a life that falls under such grave descriptions, however, many of us can perhaps falls under the categories of cowards and unfaithful, idol-worshipers and deceivers. Wooohh, I know the truth hurts doesn’t it.

Hey, but once again there is great news! We can change! HOW?

Love God above all people and material things. For starters, love God more than fame, a celebrity, houses, cars and more than money. Don’t stop there, that’s just scratching the surface. You might sit down one day (uuummmmhhh, how about today?) and make of list of things that you just loooovvveee (idiolize)! Take some time and put your life into perspective, heaven or burning pool of fire. I don’t know, you decide.

If you lost your life tomorrow, today, or in 5 minutes where would you be? Listed by your deeds in the book of life or, well, I think you know.

In Revelation 20:6 it says that in the second resurrection, those who will be raised will be priests of God and of Christ, and they will reign with him. Whooaa, hello, that could be you! Why?

You are a priest for God. How? When Jesus gave his life for us, he freed us from our sins by his blood. Therefore, making us into a kingdom, priests for his God and Father (Revelation 1:6). Did you know that we are also called ambassadors for Christ!

So now that you know who you are, how are you upholding that title? Will you live the rest of your life imitating Jesus Christ and securing your place in heaven or are you comfy with the thought of living with the dude with the horns and being tormented day and night forever and ever?

Yes, I hear you, Heaven!!!! Heaven is the ultimate! Where shall we start? How about on this earth in which we live? How can we make this the heaven it was designed to be? Well, we all know we can’t change the world, but we can change ourselves.

Do some soul searching, makes some changes, be a model for others to imitate. Change happens one person at a time.

Huh, I am ambassador for Christ! I am special! Yes you are!

Inspired by Luke 13:18-21
He said therefore, “What is the kingdom of God like? And to what should I compare it? It is like a mustard seed that someone took and sowed in the garden; it grew and became a tree, and the birds of the air made nests in its branches”. And again he said, “To what should I compare the kingdom of God? It is like yeast that a woman took and mixed in with three measures of flour until all of it was leavened.”

Tomorrow Is Not Promised

Tomorrow Is Not Promised

“Do it now Katrina. Don’t wait until it’s too late.” Lilly extended a caring hand to her daughter’s cheek and went to gently kiss her. Katrina pulled back in protest. She hated when her mother did that. Although she wanted to fight her authority, something in her 21 year old conscience got the better of her and she went in with dissent doused all over her.

“Too late,” Katrina huffed. “To late for what,” she said mumbling to herself hastily. “It’ll be too late to make it to the movies, too late to catch a ride with Monica, too late to call Jeff to see if he’s going, and too late to do my hair.”

At first, Katrina went in angrily to see her Grandpa. Her heart was set on being with her girl friends right now and nothing seemed more important than that.

As heated fury still wrenched her heart and her wrinkled forehead and piercing eyes still bore the marks of anger, her eyes caught sight of her ailing aging grandpa and her fired up heart dropped to the pit of her stomach which quickly filled with guilt.

Katrina’s grandfather was very ill. Today more than ever, it was frightfully evident that his health was failing him quickly. Looking at his frail state, she knew she was not prepared for her grandfather’s inevitable death one day. It didn’t matter whether one’s death was unexpected or not, either way, there were no doubts, it would come, many would grieve, and -- no one- - would be prepared.

Her grandfather spoke of death frequently and he would painstakingly point out that one day soon he would be with his wife. It has been 20 years that her grandfather has been grieving. Katrina knew he was ready. He had been waiting for so long.

In the midst of thinking of his loss and long time mourning her thoughts involuntarily retreated back to her mother. One dreadful day, she realized, her grandfather would pass and she would have a devastated and grieving mother.

She didn’t know when or why it happened, but Katrina, uncharacteristically, put up an invisible barrier between she and her mother. Although she knew their relationship with strained, this was the first time Katrina spent any meaningful time analyzing it.

Though some answers to her many questions remained an obscurity, what seemed to reveal itself at that moment is that her mother was the same caring person she has always been, even when Katrina rejected her.

Now feeling unexpectedly sensitive and surprisingly perceptive, Katrina began to recall the kind, generous and thoughtful things her mother did daily without complaint for her father, younger brother and sisters. Up until this instant Katrina had not genuinely paid attention to the unselfish love and devotion her mother gave to her own dying father. Finally, she thought about herself.

Feeling sick to her stomach Katrina swallowed hard. It took a few minutes for the queasiness to pass. Just when the brutal effects of her self-reproach began to mildly settle in her gut, her grandfather woke from a deep sleep. Today he looked especially pale and weak, and yet he greeted her with a warm adoring earnest smile and she was able to quickly, without resentment that possessed her heart just minutes earlier, reciprocate with irrefutable love.

She always enjoyed the talks she had with her grandfather. Although he shared some of the same stories again and again, Katrina was always enchanted by his tales. He dotingly asked her about her days and never failed to counsel her and offer insightful lessons of life. He’d say “Spend quality time with loved ones and friends,” or, “Tell them how much you care about them while you can.” And something else he often affectionately added, “If there is something you can do to help someone out, do it from the heart.” He had a million of them.

Today when he shared his stories about her grandmother, Katrina felt something profoundly touch her. Although Katrina did not remember her grandmother she felt like she knew her. Her grandfather’s stories as well as those told by her mother made her grandmother’s legacy breath with life. It was the way, she thought, his eyes lit up when he spoke of his wife that moved Katrina at this instant. She realized that she had never loved anyone with such a passion or as deeply as he loved her grandmother.

Her grandfather fell off to sleep in the midst of a story and Katrina with renewed sensitivity ran her caring fingers over his thinning hair and then kissed him. His eyes had been closed for a while, yet Katrina sat there in the silence still wanting to be near him.
It came from out of nowhere, a revelation that validated her feelings toward him. She realized that her love for her grandfather was multifaceted, bottomless and immeasurable. A single tear absconded from one of her eyes and her throat distended with emotion. “I love you grandpa,” Katrina whispered through her constricted throat, “one day I will miss you terribly.”
After a time her Grandpa stirred and for a moment he fixed his feeble eyes on hers with pure unadulterated paternal loving pride that spoke volumes to Katrina.

Caught up in the moment that was now imprinted on her heart, she was taken by surprise by the power of his voice that spoke with vigor and strength, “You should go now and be with your friends.” He patted her hand and squeezed it and then added, “kiss your mother,” he paused . . . for me.” He closed his eyes and went back to sleep.

A shock of electricity shot through her as her guilt led the searing current. She was stunned not by what he said but at where he paused that caused the meaning to hit Katrina in the gut like a freight train.

She may never know what he really meant by it, but it didn’t matter now, Katrina’s guilty conscience took over any truth and all reasoning. Without warning tears ran vehemently down her face. In an effort to spare the delicate state of her grandfather’s waning spirit, she quickly stifled the sobs that could have violently followed.

She was ashamed to the core of her being. It was clear that her behavior toward her mother was obvious, unacceptable and appalling. Even from a foggy sleep and from a room where he convalesced and stayed most of the time, Katrina reasoned, her grandfather made the unpleasant truth quite clear.

Not knowing why or where it came from, the profound words that were often uttered from her grandfather’s lips floating about her head like a magnetic halo, “live each day as if your last for tomorrow is not promised”.

It was no wonder, Katrina finally thought, that those words came to her. He would scrupulously remind her almost daily. When he used those words she knew in her heart that he was referring to her grandmother who had died some 20 years ago, when Katrina was only 1 year old. The deep love he possessed for his wife was still so alive in his eyes. Every time he uttered those words, she took them lightly and never did suitably place any value to them. Today, on its own, that phrase of an expression of deep cherished love came to mightily rescue her. His wise eloquent voice effectively penetrated her flinty mindset and his profound wisdom massaged her once calloused heart. Now, thinking of her mother’s unwavering love and how it had survived Katrina’s inferno of self-seeking emotions, she cried when not a word was spoken.
Feeling disconcerted over her reprehensible behavior, Katrina turned instantaneously and intensely to prayer.

Prayer after prayer, confession and after confession, she was deplorably asking God for forgiveness. Her dash of despair was astoundingly turning to optimism and sanguinity.
As the voracious clouds lifted that had darkened her life were removed from her impeded sight, she realized that her grandfather passed down to her a most valuable inheritance. His timely gifts of love and hope of the past, present, and the future were hers to hold. She knew these things were the legacy he was meant to leave behind.

Katrina’s mind hurriedly worked overtime. What if something happened to my own mother today? I would live to regret the way that I treated her. All Katrina could think about was the cruel way she responded to her mother’s love and affection just a short time ago.
A mother’s role was to teach, nurture and love her child unconditionally. My mother has given me many things, she thought, all the while she was without her own mother. Where did she get her strength? Then God answered her question.

Katrina, finally able to lift her head up said gently to her grandfather, “I will grandpa. I will kiss my mother . . . for you . . . and for me.”
A gentle hand touched Katrina’s shoulder and a softened side of Katrina revealed itself. She immediately placed her hand on top of her mother’s and sat comforted by the two people who raised her and who have touched her most.

When Katrina could finally feel her legs again, she rose and without hesitation acknowledged, accepted, and believed that now, in the present, at this moment, in the center of her mother’s cradle she would find insurmountable love and refuge beyond description. And this she knew was from the grace of God.

“Tomorrow is not promised,” Katrina whispered. “Your right honey, it’s not,” responded Lilly tenderly. “Today, and each day, let’s live as if were our last.”

Inspired by Luke 12:39-44, 48B

Jesus said,” But know this: if the owner of the house had known at what hour the thief was coming, he would not have let his house be broken into. You also must be ready, for the Son of Man is coming at an unexpected hour.” Peter said, “Lord, you are telling this parable for us or for everyone?” And the Lord said, “Who then is the faithful and prudent manager whom his master will put in charge of his slaves, to given them their allowance of food at the proper time. Blessed is that slave whom his master will find at work when he arrives. Truly I tell you, he will put that one in charge of all his possessions.” “From everyone to whom much has been given, much will be required; and from the one to whom much has been entrusted, even more will be demanded.”

Things That Make You Go Hhhhmmm!

Things that make you go hhhhmmm! - Positive Quotes

“Fear not that your life will come to an end; fear rather that it will never come to a beginning.”
Cardinal Newman



"Strive to live content in the midst of those things that cause your discontent. Free your mind from all that troubles you, God will take care of things. You will be unable to make haste in this [choice] without, so to speak, grieving the heart of God, because he sees that you do not honor him sufficiently with holy trust. Trust in him, I beg you, and you will have the fulfillment of what your heart desires"
(St. Vincent de Paul, Letters). Patron Saint of: Charities



Extend mercy towards others, so that there can be no one in need whom you meet without helping. For what hope is there for us if God should withdraw His mercy from us?”
St. Vincent de Paul

St. Vincent de Paul | Saint of the Day | AmericanCatholic.org

St. Vincent de Paul | Saint of the Day | AmericanCatholic.org

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A Glimmer of Light

A Glimmer Of Light

Because we are human we can sometimes have a desire to want to be noticed, to be held in high esteem, or feel superior to others. We feel we can compete and excel with our position, power, money, status, and gauge our worth by bank accounts or by the magnitude of the material goods that we own.

If we happen to lack tangible influential things, then we can recoil and reach deeper, or lower our principles if you will, by connecting with and grasping at whatever we can from our distorted bag of tricks, the error of our ways, to mock, criticize, and demean others in order to lift ourselves up. We can with deliberate evil intentions or with blameless innocence charge others with the lack of authenticity, integrity, and truthfulness, and credit them with false malicious acts and thoughts against others, all the while knowing, or not, be convincing actors that are able to persuade most audiences that give time to vain gossip.

What we greatly lack as individuals, groups, nations, and a world is knowledge and implementation of the way of teaching of Jesus. We have somehow over generations past, missed or skirted around the truths and principles of the proper way, God’s way that our ancestors once knew well and lived for a time.

We have as a matter of convenience and in the name of self-righteousness bent the rules, tweaked the laws, twisted the policies, flipped the system to a point that we are now so far removed from what is truly moral, good, upright and decent. We’ve gone so far as to blatantly ignore and suppress the tidbits of conscience we had left and think we have traded up for the better as we grow closer to false self-competence rather than closer in our walk with God.
We think we are completely and self-sufficiently in charge of the outcome of our lives; when in fact, it is God who has His grace filled hands on everything for us. He sets us up, time after time, with opportunities for prosperous living, and we repeatedly turn to old ways to try to manage life ourselves, turning to Him mostly in times of desperation.

However, these types of appraisals of our lives and quantifying reasons that we use to excuse our behavior have become so much the norm that we mistakenly believe them to be our bona fide reality and the way. Nothing has ever been further from God’s truth. His intended paradise on earth complete with fruitful means beyond our comprehension has manifested itself into an exhibition of corrupted competitive clashing egos.

Today our conduct, customs, behavior and traditions are not in line with the teachings of Jesus Christ. We have forgotten, or perhaps have never been properly schooled or disciplined in such divine truths.

Jesus lived here on this earth. He came to show us that to serve others should be one’s ultimate purpose, ambition and aspiration. That in order to be recognized, to be deemed great, and held in high esteem by God, and not by each other, we must be slave to all by service. A definition of slavery is “somebody who is forced to work for somebody else for no payment and is regarded as the property of that person.”

Rather than focusing on the terms “property of that person” we should be receiving a greater message of a kind of love sacrifice. Be “willing” to give of yourself freely and “happily” help for no personal gain because of love for another human being.

When we work with each other side by side in harmony for the same good purpose and share in similar positive intentions, then we could by the most minute of descriptions be called pleasing disciples of Christ. We may not always find another who complies with our good ideas and works, however, their rejection should not stop us from continuing on our personal mission. It doesn’t matter that our contribution or offering of our help, time, and money for the sake of others is large or small, it is for God’s children and therefore it is great in His eyes.

Although we will never come close to perfection shown to us through God’s Son Jesus Christ, He offers us hope nonetheless. He knows who we are. He knows what we think. He knows where we will fall short. God loves us beyond understanding anyway and He will never abandon us.
Make today the beginning of a new agreement with God. If you have already established an elevated relationship with Him, then take this opportunity to strive for a deeper and more rewarding bond. God never stops for us, therefore, we should never cease cultivating a deeper faith, learning from mistakes, expanding in spiritual maturity, and growing in our ascension to a higher commitment to living a life in line with Jesus Christ.

The disciples documented their experiences with Jesus and that legacy has been left to all generations since. We possess an inheritance and have at our fingertips an overflowing reserve of grace-filled answers to human questions and devout parables that demonstrate the pious life Jesus lived, so that we too may share in the glory and reap the benefits of the heaven that awaits us which Jesus has already received.

Of course, we have our ultimate model Jesus Christ who showed us the way. However, God has also granted us graces through the power of prayer and petitions and through the experiences and lives of others, including saints, through which He gives us the opportunity to take advantage, share knowledge and valuable experiences with each other that offer insight, security, comfort and love.

We are called to spend time in an effort to mentor our families, friends and strangers, for we all could use a genuine warm caring heart, a forgiving friend, a helpful hand, and a comforting motivating spiritual guide and companion through our short journey here.
Be an outstanding example, a great teacher, a powerful prayer, and an unending unyielding faith-filled lover of God.

You might have someone near you whom you admire for their pious, devout and divine attitude and whom you’d wish to imitate. We may do so because we are inspired and motivated by the tangible. Continuously move forward in personal growth but proceed with caution when emulating another. Always fall back on your oldest friend, Jesus. Walk in His shadow. Become familiar with His eminent route etched in history. Ask Him through prayer what would He do when in your special set of circumstances. The answer may not always be comfortable. God’s sent His Son to connect with us and His way is glorious and faultless yet often challenging and painful, while our ways are broken and temporary band-aids in a flawed world in need of work and healing.

When the day’s end has come and we lye down to rest and we can say that we have lived this day following as best we can in the footsteps of Jesus, then we know we are on the right path to our privileged conversion and supreme salvation.

In all that we do, we must keep the light for Christ shining bright within us. Whenever darkness attempts to take over, we will have the strength to immediately turn things around through the powerful and forceful light that glows steady within us. Therefore, the pessimism of others, negativity of situations, and the gloom and disparagement of murky circumstances shall have no dominion over us.

We have all the ammunition necessary to fight all that comes against us, even if the battle is with ourselves. More than any words that could be poetically or masterfully composed by a human mind and tongue, we have God’s holy words of life that proclaim and hold a never dimming radiant light that will eternally sustain anyone who chases, follows and pursues it.

A glimmer of light is living within you, breathing, waiting for you to ignite it!



Inspired by:

Peter 1:3-9
“Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! By his great mercy he has given us a new birth into a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, and into an inheritance that is imperishable, undefiled, and unfading, kept in heaven for you, who are being protected by the power of God through faith for a salvation ready to be revealed for the last time. In this you rejoice, even if now for a little while you have had to suffer various trials, so that the genuineness of your faith-being more precious than gold that, though perishable, is tested by fire-may be found to result in praise and glory and honor when Jesus Christ is revealed. Although you have not seen him and rejoice with an indescribable and glorious joy, for you are receiving the outcome of your faith, the salvation of your souls.”

WhO lOvEs YoU bAbY!

WhO lOvEs YoU bAbY!

Oh yeah, aaaahhh, hhhhaaaa, somebody loves you! That’s it! You can never say it isn’t so. You, my friend, are nee-vvveeeerr forgotten. You are spe-eee-eee-ci-alllll! God loves you, the bible tells you so!

Have you ever had one of those days when you feel – forgotten about. Don’t know what happened to me kind of days? I feel insecure, out of sorts. I feel like I was kicked under the bus%#@&^! Nothing is going right kind of time? My opinion doesn’t count. What’s my purpose? Do I real-leee matter? Nobody luh-uh-uh-ves me!!! Oh, poor ---------. NOT!
What? Haven’t you heard? In God’s eyes you are eXtRa-OrDiNaRy! He loves every little detail the makes you “YoU”. Duh – he was your creator! How could he not love you? (How could you not know this? Oh, well, you know it nOw!)

People those trying, dArK, pUzZliNg, PeRpLeXing, bAffLing, MyStiFying, bAmBooZling days are gone forever!

Who needs a census report to say that you exist? Not I, says the child of God. Who needs another person to validate your life, purpose or emotions? Not I, says the child of God. Who needs a perfect day to feel worthy? Not I, says the child of God. Who loves you just the way you are. “God” say his special child (that’s yOOOuuu!).

AgHHhhHh. God is the only one who loves you completely, unconditionally, and is ever forgiving! He is the only one who wants to bless you a hundred fold many times over and over and every day – yiP-pEeEE!!! God does not want you to suffer, to do bad, to feel lost, or feel abandoned. He wants you to know you are loved. Can you feel the LoVe!!

He doesn’t care about what you do for a living or what you look like when you roll out of bed. He doesn’t judge you when you’ve made a mistake, and he forgives you and allows you to move on without guilt. Oh yeah, somebody lOvEs YoU alright!

Oh yeah – ain’t no stopping you now! There is a song in your heart now and I can hear it from here! Ummmhhh, ummmhhhh, SiNg On. Let them hear you all the way up to HeaVen!
Every day is a day for a celebration of your life and of God’s love. Wow, I’ve never seen this side of you (and you sing too – WhO kNeW?)! You are AmaZ-ing! Show the world your true HaPpY colors! You are now on a NeW pAth, the HiGh RoAd, and a very SpEciAl JoUrNey. Being aware of God’s love will make you hApPy, HaPpY, HApPy even when the world seems to be falling apart around you! Don’t fret the enormous or minuscule manias of life, with God on your side you are f-r-e-e from cOnCeRnS and AnXiEtiEs.

WhO lOvEs YoU bAbY? That’s it! You’ve know it NoW! GOD!



Inspired by: Luke 12:6-7

“Are not five sparrows sold for two pennies? Yet not one of them is forgotten in God’s sight. But even the hairs of your head are all counted. Do not be afraid; you are of more value than many sparrows.”

Can We Talk?

Can we talk?

“R-i-i-i-n-g.” The bell rang and the last of the children scurried in from recess to find their seats. “Okay class, time to focus. Just a little longer, it’s almost time for lunch,” said Ms. Claibourne standing before the class with her hands clasped together. “Let us continue with religion now. Today we will be discussing and experimenting with communication skills– that is, talking and listening to God. Also, we will explore significant differences and trivial common threads between the Spirit of God and a cell phone.”

There were giggles among the classmates. Loud screams and high pitched voices bounced off the walls and then, a thump from a book being dropped to the floor reached a crescendo. “Okay class, settle down. Let’s get some ideas going.”

Ms. Claibourne looked around the room to see who would be the first to bring out a cell phone. One thousand one, one thousand two, one thousand . . . There it was. “Heee, heee, hee,” laughed Junior showing off his phone to who ever was looking his way. “Junior, why don’t you come up here with that.” Junior looked up with a face that quickly went from a fire flushed red tone to a pale white tinge and he dropped the phone again. “Ms. Claibourne I was just . . .” Ms. Claibourne extended her hand out toward him with her palm faced up. Junior certainly knew the school rules and what that simple hand gesture meant. He picked up his plaything and walked obediently to the front of the class with his blue taped up cell phone in hand. Ms. Claibourne hid a smile as she imagined the thick warn tape was from countless efforts to repair the phone from the many wounds it had received. Junior gave it to his teacher and silently stood before her. Then Ms. Claibourne said in a low voice, “Junior, you know that I should take this to the office where they’ll keep it until your parents pick it up. One more time and you won’t be able to bring it to school for a whole month.” “Yes Ms. Claibourne,” he said sounding and looking defeated. “I’ll just keep this for now and you may ask me for it before the dismissal bell at the end of the day. You may return to your seat Junior.”

Ms. Claibourne looked around the room and decided to start with someone who rarely raised their hand. “Desiree, what can you do with God that you can also do with this cell phone,” Ms. Claibourne asked holding up the badly bandaged instrument. “Talk to Him anytime you want to,” Desiree responded quickly and seemed surprised over her rapid confident comeback. “Very good Desiree.” Then Ronny asked softly and innocently, “What do you do when your minutes run out?” “You pay for more dummy,” retorted Nattie. “Okay Nattie that was a creative response, but we could do without the smart comments, okay?” Ms. Claibourne looked at Nattie for a long moment, and then she finally responded, “I’m sorry Ronny.” “Thank you Nattie,” Ms. Claibourne said sighing lightly. It was rare to have a brother and sister in the class, but at times entertaining to say the least.

“Class, Ronny brings up a very good point. You can run out of minutes with a cell phone but can you run out of time with God?” Several hands went up, “ooooh, ooooh, oooh,” voices came from different sides of the classroom. “Okay, Vangie,” Ms. Claibourne continued pointing to her, “Can you run out of time with God?” “No,” she replied shortly. “Why not?” “Because God is there whenever you want to talk to Him.” “Excellent Vangie.” “See I told ya Marie,” Vangie said pulling on her classmate’s long dark pony tail. “Stop,” Marie cried out.

“Okay John, in what ways are a cell phone and God alike?” “They both have light.” Very good John.” “Angel when would the light go out on the cell phone?” Angel countered with a question, “When the battery goes dead?” “Or when you turn it off. Duh, no electricity,” shouted Albert from the back of the room. Laughter ensued at his comment and his imitation of electricity. Angel turned to Albert and shot him a shoddy stare. Seeing the competition that was building up in Angel’s eyes Ms. Claibourne added, “You are both right.”

“I don’t get it,” asked Kristy. “A cell phone has light but how does God have light.” Ms. Claibourne replied, “Good question, Kristy. Can anyone answer that? Go ahead John you have your hand up.” “God gave us Jesus so we would have light. If we believe in Jesus then we believe in the one who sent Him.”

“Wow John, I’m impressed, who taught you that,” Ms. Claibourne asked. “My grandma told me that I was named John, like John the Baptist. And that he baptized and prepared people for the coming of Jesus, who is the light of the world,” he said with finality. “Yes.” Then Ms. Claibourne, added, “Jesus came to give the world hope of eternity, that’s heaven; and he showed us that by baptism we would have the light, the Holy Spirit of God, within us.”

“Sylvia, does God’s light ever go out?” Sylvia pondered the question for a somber moment and finally replied solemnly, “Yes.” “Why would you think that,” Ms. Claibourne asked puzzled by her response. “Because . . . my Dad said God wasn’t there when my Nana died.” Ms. Claibourne bit her lip and her stomach did a quick flip flop as she watched Sylvia slowly lower her head to hide her emotions. Ms. Claibourne walked over to Sylvia and stood behind her and affectionately and gently placed her hands on her shoulders. “It’s okay honey, let’s talk about it.” The noise in the classroom trickled to a hushed silence as tears fell down Sylvia’s cheeks. This was difficult, Ms. Claibourne thought, but she quickly turned to her faith and sought God immediately for help to find the right words. “Sometimes class, when someone dies or something happens in our lives and we don’t understand it we might feel, for a little while, that God has left us. It might seem like the light of God has turned off inside us. However, when you have great faith and you keep God first in your life, your doubts become less and less in times of despair.” Then a small voice counseled. “My Mom says that God only leaves because we close our eyes to Him,” responded Jerry wisely. “What about when you go to sleep? You close your eyes then,” Kristy bravely took another turn. “Then you dream about Him,” Michael joined in with a response that sounded a matter of fact. “Yes,” Ms. Claibourne beamed inside and out with exhilaration at how much they understood and the many areas they were covering today, “you’ve all made excellent points. God is always there even in your sleep. What’s really important to remember is that He doesn’t ever leave you. But sometimes, not on purpose, we do turn away from Him.”

“Next question. What do you do when your cell phone stops working completely?” Josh shot up from his seat, waived his hands as if preaching to the class and blurted out especially loud, “You pay the bill!” Others laughed at his usual clown like antics. Phyllis then rose from her seat standing erect and sounding very astute added, “You go to the phone company for an upgrade.” Ms. Claibourne smiled at their exposure and comprehension of what should be adult business matters.

“What about God’s light? Is it always on? “Yes,” replied the class in what seemed like unison. “Wonderful,” Ms. Claibourne said feeling accomplished. “Now that you know God’s light is always on, what should you do when it seems that God had stopped working in you?” “Talk to Him again,” answered Mary. “Pray,” added Marco. “Write Him a letter,” Cynthia contributed. “That’s dumb,” Larry uttered. Okay Larry, that’s not nice. Ms. Claibourne paused and her silence prompted Larry’s apology, “I’m sorry Cynthia.” “Thank you Larry.” “Yes, you could write Him a letter. However, many people enjoy writing in a journal, which is what we will be doing.”

Ray raised his hand. “Go ahead Ray,” Ms. Claibourne said recognizing he had a question. “What is a journal?” “Okay, who can tell us what a journal is,” Ms. Claibourne inquired looking around the room for a volunteer and called on her most shy student. “Missy, what is a journal?” “A book of your thoughts,” she said meekly. “Like a diary,” Brenda added. “A little bit,” Ms. Claibourne corroborated lightly. “A journal with God would be like little written conversations with Him and/or thoughts to Him.” “How many times a day can we write in it,” Gina asked. “You may write to Him as many times as you’d like to.” “What if we want to say something to God and we don’t have our journal with us,” inquired Mark. “Then just talk to Him.” “How can I talk to God? I don’t remember ever talking to Him. I’ve never seen Him before,” stated Raquel. “When you talk to God there is something inside you that comes alive and you just know that He’s there. You’ll recognize his presence. Again, you might call that the Holy Spirit. But remember you also need to practice listening to Him too,” Ms. Claibourne added assuredly. “How do we do any of that,” Sarah asked sounding bewildered yet looking quite interested.
“Okay, let’s try something here. I want the first and second rows to stand up and march in place. Great, now the third and fourth rows put your hands on your head and you’ll move them up and down like you are pushing on a hat. Good, now the fifth row, I’d like you to sit in your seats backwards and play patty-cakes with the person you are now facing. Now everyone else put your hands over your eyes and sing row row your boat, except for the last row. I want the last row to come up here to the front. Take a piece of chalk and start writing your name on the board, and say your name over and over. I want everyone to start talking, singing, writing or marching and when I turn off the lights, we will pause for long moment and from that spot where you are at that time I want you to listen to or have a little conversation with God. Then I’ll say go and you’ll talk, write and sing again. Then we’ll do it again and again. Are you ready? Okay. Go!”

Okay. Hector, let’s start with you. A week has passed now, what have you learned since you’ve been listening and talking to God regularly through a journal and meditating in silence? “That you can sit, stand or kneel when talking to God.” “Wonderful. Emmitt?” “That talking is kind of like praying too.” “Dave, what did you realize about your conversation with God?” “That it doesn’t matter where I am or what I’m doing I can talk to Him anywhere.” “Jacqueline, your turn.” “That just because I was busy didn’t mean that He left me, it’s just that I stopped thinking about Him for a little while.” “Tyeas.” “I realized that I could bring Him back anytime I wanted to.” Jasmend, “It was weird because I was talking or praying to God in the car or when I was with my friends, and not kneeling by my bed where I used to only pray.”

Ms. Claibourne noticed that Karen looked a little confused and inquired of her newest student, “Karen what did you think?” “I don’t know. I mean it’s hard to put into words. I just feel . . . good all the time. It’s like He’s there even when I’m not talking to Him.” Frankie volunteered, “I wasn’t as mean to my little sister. I showed her how to talk to God.” “Allison, what about you? What did you experience?” “It wasn’t just one thing. But when my Grandma got sick last week and everyone was crying, I told them to hold hands and I prayed out loud for her and I think it made everyone feel better.” “Do you think God heard,” asked Ms. Claibourne. “Yes, because my Grandma came home from the hospital yesterday.” Wow, Ms. Claibourne thought, this was so much more than I prayed for. “Lord you out did yourself again.”

“R-i-i-i-n-g.” The bell rang and Ms. Claibourne dismissed the class for lunch. She immediately sat down behind her teacher’s desk and faced the empty chairs and began to write:

BEGIN JOURNAL - DEAR GOD: I am always amazed at these young people. Their family experiences, many good yet some emotional and trying circumstances, do have a different effect on everyone. These children are listening and learning even when we think they’re not. I wish their parents could hear them now.

I know that this was a deep subject matter to be understood, however, I know we were blessed by your grace today. This important message seemed to be comprehended by the majority of the class. Today was the perfect example of Your work within us, young and old. That is why Jesus so loved the children, isn’t it? They speak from the heart about love and truth and their uncomplicated and simplistic views on life help adults to see things we’ve closed our eyes to. The work that I do here is worth it, even if it touches just one person. Thank you dear Lord for another fruitful day. END JOURNAL

Ms. Claibourne was now standing in the quiet calm that filled the room and she herself felt His presence at that moment. Surprised by the movement in the far end of the classroom, Ms. Claibourne caught sight of one of her students still sitting quietly. “Candace? Why aren’t you out at lunch with the others? Are you okay,” asked the teacher affectionately. “I’m fine Ms. Claibourne, I was just talking to God about you.” “Oh, okay,” Ms. Claibourne simply smiled not wanting to pry for anymore information. But Candace volunteered, “I told him that I wanted to be just like you when I grow up.” “You did? Well, I’m sure He has His own plan just for you.” “I know He does,” said Candace confidently. “He told me to watch you carefully, because you are part of my plan.”

“Thank you dear God for allowing me to witness your work,” Ms. Claibourne praised Him once again. “You have touched another so young with wisdom through your powerful hands of mercy and grace.”

Inspired by:

Romans 8:26-27

“The Spirit helps us in our weakness; for we do not know how to pray as we ought, but that very Spirit intercedes with sighs to deep for words. And God, who searches the heart, knows what is the mind of the Spirit, because the Spirit intercedes for the saints according to the will of God.”