Day Forty-Three, Wednesday of Holy Week March 31, 2010

Prayer is the rudder that guides us through the day, helping us to make those decisions that impact our future. Prayer is the centering of our lives on what is most important. It gives us a relationship with Jesus that stirs us to have an understanding of what life is all about. It guides us in grace. It fills us with the presence of God. It gives us the gifts of the Holy Spirit. Those families who raise their children with a prayer life will find the peace that is beyond understanding. Our lives are changed because of prayer.
God bless!!

Day Forty-Two, Tuesday of Holy Week March 30, 2010

"Know thyself!" "The unexamined life is not worth living."
These are old philosophies that hold true even today. We humans tend to live by everything that is outside of us. What the culture of our times holds to be true, we believe is true. But once we examine ourselves and begin to see our goodness and our sinfulness, we come to a deeper revelation of moral truths. We begin to know what is right and what is wrong and we can no longer live the lie of the culture. God is real and He desires that we know the truth. Spend time in the silence of your heart and get to know the truth about God and about yourself.
God bless!!

Day Forty-One, Monday of Holy Week March 29, 2010

Today as we enter into Holy Week let us be reminded of the greatness and wonder of our good and faithful God, creator and redeemer. He will lead us where we need to go, if we let Him. Unfortunately we have become a nation of idolators. We have a desire to worship. But what do we worship? Do we worship the true God or do we worship something else? Too often our worship begins with the I, ourselves, instead of God who created us with great love. Deep down we know that there is something more so we continue to frantically search for it. But we search in all the wrong places. We desire passion, power, possessions. We become addicted to things, people, places. We long to be satisfied and desire what we think will satisfy. And when it doesn't we move on to other addictions. And God waits. He is patient, kind and understanding. He desires to give us the gifts of the Holy Spirit. Sit in silence today and know the awesome wonder and power of our God.
God bless!!

Lent: Day Forty, Passion (Palm) Sunday March 28, 2010

The Eucharist is the source and summit of our holy Catholic faith. If I worship Jesus in the Eucharist then I believe that this is truly his body and blood. For Jesus said: "Unless you eat my flesh and drink my blood, you will have no life in you." If I do not truly believe this then I am an idolater for all I worship is bread and wine. I do believe in the one true presence of Jesus in the Eucharist. Do you?
God bless!!

Nine Grandchildren

Nine grandchildren gathered for an Easter egg hunt and to celebrate birthdays!!

Zachary's Birthday Today - March 27, 2010

My second grandson, Zachary, turned 10 today. As he put it, "I'm a decade old!!"

Here he is with Sophie!!

Zachary, age 4, and his cousin Calvin, age 5!

Lent: Day Thirty-Nine, Saturday March 27, 2010

What would you choose? Love and acceptance or Despair and loneliness?  This is the choice we make every day. One is Heaven and the other is Hell. We do not have to wait until we die to discover one or the other. Jesus tells us that the Kingdom of God lives within us. Hell is just an absence of God's presence. And the Kingdom of God is God's presence within us always. We humans are often deaf, dumb, and blind to His presence. But when we discover it, we will never let it go.
God bless!!

Lent: Day Thirty-Eight, Friday March 26, 2010

Today is Friday, a good day to fast and abstain. Hard choices for us human beings who tend to want what we want when we want it. But with God's help all things are possible. So along with choosing to fast and abstain today, pray! Pray extra hard for the grace that God so freely gives to us his most loved of all creatures!!
God bless!!

Feast of the Annunciation: Mary Teaches Us How to Live - March 25, 2010

Mother Mary, pray for us!! Lead us to your son Jesus!!

Feast of the Annunciation: Mary Teaches Us How to Live - Catholic Online

Lent: Day Thirty-Seven, Thursday March 25, 2010

"In Christ are humanity and divinity met and joined: he is true God and true man." (From the Magnificat)
"In Jesus, God has placed, in the midst of barren, despairing mankind, a new beginning which is not a product of human history but a gift from above." (Pope Benedict XVI)
"Christianity is this never-ending event of encounter with God made present in the maternity of the Blessed Virgin Mary." (From the Magnificat)

Lent: Day Thirty-Six, Wednesday March 24, 2010

"Man does not live by bread alone, but by the Word of God"
We often think that the material goods of this world are of high importance, and forget what is really important "the Word of God." Read the Bible and read a good book, "The Fulfillment of All Desire" by Ralph Martin.
God bless!!

Lent: Day Thirty-Five, Tuesday March 23, 2010

Today we can choose to serve ourselves or choose to serve God. If we choose to serve God, then we are willing to say "Thy will be done, not mine, but thine!" Choose God this day!
God bless!!

Lent: Day Thirty-Four, Monday March 22, 2010

Suffering and Sorrow are the greatest joy when lived with Jesus. For through His suffering and death on the cross we are promised resurrection. What greater joy is there than to live forever? All that we work so hard to obtain on this earth will pass away. But not Jesus who will be with us forever!
God bless!!

Lent: Day Thirty-Three, Fifth Sunday in Lent March 21, 2010

It is in recognizing the sin in our own lives that we are forgiven and come into full communion and union with Our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. Be as the woman in today's Gospel who was condemned by others and forgiven by Jesus.
God bless!!

Lent: Day Thirty-Two, Saturday March 20, 2010

Lord, help me to love, especially when there is no love. Help me to forgive, especially when there is no forgiveness. Help me to accept, especially when there is no acceptance. It is by your Grace that I live the life I live.
God bless!

St. Joseph - March 19, 2010

Pray for us, good St. Joseph!

St. Joseph - Saints & Angels - Catholic Online

Lent: Day Thirty-One, Friday March 19, 2010

"Loving Father, through Saint Joseph's intercession help me to accept the entry of your will into my plans so that my will can enter into your plans." (Taken from The Magnificat Lenten Companion)
God bless!!

St. Cyril of Jerusalem - March 18, 2010

St. Cyril of Jerusalem, pray for us!

St. Cyril of Jerusalem - Saints & Angels - Catholic Online

Lent: Day Thirty, Thursday March 18, 2010

A Prayer from the Magnificat:
"You know, O Lord, our weakness. You know the seductive power of the god of our world. Forgive, protect, deliver your people in our foolish waywardness. Bring us to new life through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen."
God Bless!!

St. Patrick - March 17, 2010

Pray for us, St. Patrick.

St. Patrick - Saints & Angels - Catholic Online

Lent: Day Twenty-Nine, Wednesday March 17, 2010

"The Lord is compassion and love, slow to anger and rich in mercy. His wrath will come to an end; he will not be angry for ever. He does not treat us according to our sins nor repay us according to our faults." Psalm 103

Lent: Day Twenty-Eight, Tuesday March 16, 2010

"I will not ask God to deliver you from your trials, but I will ask him earnestly to give you the patience and strength needed to suffer as long as he desires." Brother Lawrence of the Resurrection
God bless!!

Lent: Day Twenty-Seven, Monday March 15, 2010

From today's Magnificat:

"Saint Bernard of Clairvaux said that pilgrims on the spiritual journey face alternately in two directions: when we look at ourselves, we are saddened by our failings; when we look at God, we rejoice in his love. In mid-Lent, the liturgy reminds us that the purifying suffering of the cross is the only way to the everlasting joy of the resurrection."

God bless!!

Lent: Day Twenty-Six, Fourth Sunday of Lent March 14, 2010

God is love and if we live in God's love we are love. God's love is unconditional, forgiving and eternal. If we are God's love we too give unconditional, forgiving and eternal love.
God bless!!

Lent: Day Twenty-Five, Saturday March 13, 2010

Sometimes we can be like the Pharisees, focused only on ourselves.
Sometimes we can be like the tax collector, focused only on how bad we are.
We are called to be like the saints, focused only on Jesus and his great love for us.
God bless!!

Lent: Day Twenty-Four, Friday March 12, 2010

Today Love the Lord your God and let Him love you in return. When we experience God's love for us in our lives, we are never the same! It's like the color band in physics that shows us we can only see a teeny tiny portion of the colors that are out there. Our eyes are so limited. But when we open our hearts to God, He opens our eyes and ears to the sights and sounds of His great love. And then we are captured and never the same again!!
God bless!!

Lent: Day Twenty-Three, Thursday March 11, 2010

Like little children who hold their hands over their ears so they will not have to hear the things that others might say to them, we too hold our hands over our hearts so that we will not hear the things that God longs to say to us. If we let go for just a minute, we just might learn how much he loves us!!
God bless!!

Lent: Day Twenty-Two, Wednesday March 10, 2010

Psalm 119
"Your word, O Lord, for ever stands firm in the heavens: your truth lasts from age to age, like the earth you created.

By your decree it endures to this day; for all things serve you. Had your law not been my delight I would have died in my affliction.

I will never forget your precepts for with them you give me life. Save me, for I am yours since I seek your precepts.

Though the wicked lie in wait to destroy me yet I ponder on your will. I have seen that all perfection has an end but your command is boundless."

God bless!

St. Frances of Rome - March 9, 2010

St. Frances of Rome, pray for us!

St. Frances of Rome - Saints & Angels - Catholic Online

Lent: Day Twenty-One, Tuesday March 9, 2010

Investigate the depths of your own heart to find out whether God dwells there. He calls us to mercy for mercy is our identity. We are created out of the very mercy of God. Believe!! Open your hearts and believe! None of us must live our lives alone or make decisions on our own or wonder what life is all about and why we are here. The answers lie within us when we turn our lives and will over to our creator he will open up our minds and hearts that we might see and hear and truly believe. Remove the ego and God's presence is known.
God bless!!

St. John of God - March 8, 2010

St. John of God, pray for us!!

St. John of God - Saints & Angels - Catholic Online

Lent: Day Twenty, Monday March 8, 2010

Today is the half way point. Only 20 more days until Palm Sunday. Put God first in your life. Find time to go to Mass and receive Jesus in the Eucharist. Find time to go to confession. Look at yourself and discover the creator's great love for his creation. God is pure love and desires to make us one with him. Pray!!
God bless!!

Lent: Day Nineteen, The Third Sunday in Lent, March 7, 2010

We can have great wealth, many possessions, power; but if we do not have God first in our lives we have nothing. All wealth, power and possessions will pass away when we least expect it, but God is forever.
God bless!!

Lent: Day Eighteen, Saturday March 6, 2010

How can we say that we love God when we have such a hard time loving our neighbor? If we were to explore the depths of our own sin and fault as frequently as we explore those of our neighbors we would be more perfect as our heavenly Father is perfect. God calls us to be holy as he is holy. On our own this is impossible! With God's help all things are possible! He desires with a great desire to love us and give us all things. Do you love God? If so, how much time do you spend with him each day?
God bless!!

Lent: Day Seventeen, Friday Mar 5, 2010

Forgiveness: If we truly believe that God has loved us enough to forgive us all of our sins, all of our faults and character defects, then it is possible through God's grace for us to forgive and have compassion for others. Forgive someone today!
God bless!!

Lent: Day Sixteen, Thursday March 4, 2010

"He who trusts in his riches will fall, but like green leaves the just flourish." (Prv 11:28)

Trust in God, not in material possessions! Things will pass away sooner than we think. Spend time in prayer while you still have time.
God bless!

Lent: Day Fifteen, Wednesday Mar 3, 2010

"The Son of Man came not to be served but to serve..." (MT 20:28)

Today serve others well!!
God bless!

Lent: Day Fourteen, Tuesday Mar 2, 2010

Today Jesus teaches us about humility - "Whoever exalts himself will be humbled; but whoever humbles himself will be exalted." We are all Adams and Eves in the garden with our desire to be like gods. The only reason we do not put God first in our lives is because we are too busy putting ourselves first. Once you experience a total giving up of self, you will never be the same again. God moves in mysterious ways and he longs to fill us with his great love. But he always waits for our invitation.
God bless!!

Lent: Day Thirteen, Monday Mar 1, 2010

"What Christ commands seems impossible to us: 'Stop judging. Stop condemning. Forgive.' But if Jesus demands this, then it must be because it is possible for us." (March 1st Magnificat)

Pray for grace and it will be given to you. God bless!!