All Will Be Exposed

The truth eventually comes out, doesn't it? Whether it's within minutes or years down the road, all will be exposed. Personally, I'd rather face the ugly truth up front. Get it over with as soon as possible. Tell me when I have offended right then and there. In times when I'm confronted with disrespect, I try to ignore the behavior the first few times, giving the benefit of the doubt. Then it becomes a choice of saying something or letting the bad behavior continue. But there are some situations where the offending party is just not ready to admit the reasons for their bad behavior or may not even realize they are offensive. When I think of Jesus in this scenario (He was constantly dealing with adversity!), I have to remember His message is always to lead with love and compassion while still maintaining solid boundaries. Not always easy, but so necessary!

Todays Gospel (Mark 4:21-25) points out that eventually truth will be revealed:

Jesus said to his disciples, “Is a lamp brought in to be placed under a bushel basket or under a bed, and not to be placed on a lampstand? For there is nothing hidden except to be made visible;  nothing is secret except to come to light. Anyone who has ears to hear ought to hear.” He also told them, “Take care what you hear. The measure with which you measure will be measured out to you, and still more will be given to you. To the one who has, more will be given; from the one who has not, even what he has will be taken away.”

In Whispers From the Cross, Anne a lay apostle directs us to the foot of the cross when we are hurt by others:

"In the course of each life, we can expect to be betrayed. We can expect others to turn against us and be false, even perhaps while they pretend to be our friends. Falseness hurts the most. A proclaimed enemy at least allows us to be on guard. When one pretends to be a friend, we allow love to flow through us to them. We give. Our guard is down. When this love is exploited and it is found that person has abused love, one’s trust can be badly shaken. Such hurt. The only place to take it is to the foot of the Crucified Christ. That is the only place where it will make sense. And, when we deliver this hurt to Jesus, He is able to console us and guide us through the temptations that accompany betrayal."

Lay apostles, can you think of someone who just won't give you a break? Someone whose comments and/or actions are like flaming arrows to bring you down to their level of misery? We all know or have known people like this. Are love and compassion your first thoughts when attacked? To be honest, it's not mine usually! But, I have learned, through this mission, to act and react a little calmer, a little more peaceful (thank God Jay is a patient listener!), and to see others through His Eyes to the best of my ability. I am a work in progress, but I'm getting there!

Thank you, Lord, for continually providing the insight I need to remain calm when adversity strikes. 

God bless,
Bonnie

Make The World Move

There is a song written by Cee Lo Green and sung by Christina Aguilara called Make the World Move. The song has a fast tempo, and the words may get lost in all the theatrics of her performance (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2VUcO_f2H38). 

But when you slow it down, and hear the message, it's beautiful:

Fight the darkness, sing the song

Move it Move it Move it Move it

If one smile could erase a frown

Imagine what two could do (turn it up)

And if one voice could change a heart

Imagine what two could do (turn it up hey)

The time is now

No time to wait

Turn up the love

Turn down the hate

Turn up the love

Turn down the hate (hey) . . . .

Basically, we have the graces, through Christ, to change the world. Our actions must speak louder than our words, lay apostles! It's never too late to begin loving instead of hating. To be tolerant instead of merciless. Let the Word of God take root within your soul . . . today.

In todays Gospel (Mark 4:1-20), does Jesus speak in parables to confuse, or to get us actively involved? 

On another occasion, Jesus began to teach by the sea. A very large crowd gathered around him so that he got into a boat on the sea and sat down. And the whole crowd was beside the sea on land. And he taught them at length in parables, and in the course of his instruction he said to them, “Hear this! A sower went out to sow. And as he sowed, some seed fell on the path, and the birds came and ate it up. Other seed fell on rocky ground where it had little soil. It sprang up at once because the soil was not deep. And when the sun rose, it was scorched and it withered for lack of roots.  Some seed fell among thorns, and the thorns grew up and choked it and it produced no grain. And some seed fell on rich soil and produced fruit. It came up and grew and yielded thirty, sixty, and a hundredfold.” He added, “Whoever has ears to hear ought to hear.”

And when he was alone, those present along with the Twelve questioned him about the parables. He answered them, “The mystery of the Kingdom of God has been granted to you. But to those outside everything comes in parables, so that they may look and see but not perceive, and hear and listen but not understand, in order that they may not be converted and be forgiven.”

Jesus said to them, “Do you not understand this parable? Then how will you understand any of the parables? The sower sows the word. These are the ones on the path where the word is sown. As soon as they hear, Satan comes at once  and takes away the word sown in them. And these are the ones sown on rocky ground who, when they hear the word, receive it at once with joy. But they have no roots; they last only for a time. Then when tribulation or persecution comes because of the word, they quickly fall away. Those sown among thorns are another sort. They are the people who hear the word, but worldly anxiety, the lure of riches, and the craving for other things intrude and choke the word, and it bears no fruit. But those sown on rich soil are the ones who hear the word and accept it and bear fruit thirty and sixty and a hundredfold.”

In Volume Ten, Jesus reminds us to take action now:

"As I prepared My original apostles to begin My beautiful Church on earth, I now commission you to reclaim My beautiful Church. You have such great heavenly assistance. When I speak of My Church, I am speaking of the body of the Church, comprised of its people. You are to call them back to the safety of the family of God. I send you out as I sent out the first group. You are to speak freely of Me. If a soul rejects Me, hold no malice for that soul. Simply pray for them and move along, seeking out another. Often you are like a farmer sowing seeds. I, Myself, must reap the harvest. This should not concern you because to insist on reaping what you have sown in this instance is not appropriate. Sometimes God is needed to ignite the divine. Use My words, dear little apostles. Spread them everywhere. Keep your words limited and allow Me to claim the soul. You will soften the soul by loving the person. Your love and your example can predispose a soul so that I can find the opening I need. What joy is there in this work! How satisfying is a rescue mission when souls are saved. And they will be saved, do not fear. You will be successful, but only I can measure your success. You are successful now, are you not? You are following My will. You are working for the Kingdom." 

Lay apostles, it never fails. The minute I try to take things into my own hands, chaos begins to whirl. I can get the whirling to stop much quicker these days . . . only by calling His Name for assistance. He needs us for this mission. Every one of us! How can we participate? Show love. Be a beacon of light in the dark. Give someone a Volume today. Discuss the Gospel and what it means to you. He wants our success and promises to give it by following Him!

Thank you, Lord, for challenges, and the peace and calm You provide when I ask for it. I know I don't always hear You right away, but thanks for Your persistence!

God bless,
Bonnie

We Are Many Parts

This past weekend at Mass, we sang one of my favorite songs, We Are Many Parts, written by Marty Haugen. Here are a few of the lyrics:

We are many parts, we are all one body,

and the gifts we have we are given to share.

May the Spirit of love make us on in deed;

one, the love that we share,

one, our hope in despair,

one, the cross that we bear.

Not only is the melody beautiful, but the words imply a unity only God can create between us when we live our lives for His Glory. We all have our crosses to bear. But knowing and accepting that suffering is just part of our journey toward Christ . . . toward eternity . . . it is critical we have the love and support of our family, friends and church community. Most importantly, we must BE the light we hope to see in the world. Live for Him, lay apostles, and everything becomes a little easier to bear.

In todays Gospel (Mark 3:31-35), Jesus demonstrates there are no favorites in the eyes of God:

The mother of Jesus and his brothers arrived at the house. Standing outside, they sent word to Jesus and called him. A crowd seated around him told him, “Your mother and your brothers and your sisters are outside asking for you.” But he said to them in reply, “Who are my mother and my brothers?” And looking around at those seated in the circle he said, “Here are my mother and my brothers. For whoever does the will of God is my brother and sister and mother.”

In Volume One, Jesus challenges us to unity with Him, so to shine His Light to others:

"Be an example of peace to your brothers and sisters so that they, too, may desire union with Me. That is the challenge to My followers. If you have a peaceful countenance, you reflect Me, your Savior. Others see this and desire it. ‘What is it about that person?’ they ask. If you are a follower, your holiness will shine from within you and that is what they will identify. Be at peace. Fear is not from Me and does not draw you closer to Me. You must strive for confidence in your God. I will be with you, even until the end of time. Your sufferings will console you greatly later, when you join Me. You will never be sorry you suffered for your Jesus."  

Lay apostles, there is so much pain and suffering occurring all over the world. How can you brighten up someone's day today? How can you spread the messages contained in the Volumes? Change a life for the better by offering hope. We are many parts, we are all one body.

Thank you, Lord, for teaching me how to offer everything up to You, good and bad. Thank you for the graces bestowed upon me to offer hope and love when others are in need.

God bless,
Bonnie

It's Between Jesus and You!

Jay and I attended a motivational seminar last week called "Lead & Succeed 2014." The lineup of speakers included: Kendra Todd (first female to win reality show The Apprentice), Rudy Giuliani (former mayor of NY), Tom Ziglar (son of motivational speaker Zig Ziglar), Dr. Robert Schuller II, Adam Ginsberg (eBay guru), Les Brown (motivational speaker), Tom Hopkins (sales guru), James Smith (real estate guru), Dr. Clarice Fluitt (minister and motivational speaker) , Keith Craft (MC,minister and motivational speaker), Bob Kartell (not sure about his last name, but spoke about investments), Daniel Miller (make money on the internet), Larry King (via satellite) and James MacNeil (author and motivational speaker). Every one of them had invigorating messages . . . and almost every one of them spoke about their FAITH!!! Jesus was in the room last week, at a business seminar! We were told by the MC (Mr. Craft) that when they did a survey of past participants of the Lead & Succeed seminars, a large majority said they wanted to see spirituality incorporated. How cool is that? The overall message we walked away with was that it's between Jesus and you . . . others will try to distract you on the path, but if you stay focused He can do wondrous things!

Todays Gospel (Mark 3:22-30) demonstrates the focus we all need:

The scribes who had come from Jerusalem said of Jesus,  “He is possessed by Beelzebul,” and “By the prince of demons he drives out demons.”

Summoning them, he began to speak to them in parables,  “How can Satan drive out Satan? If a kingdom is divided against itself, that kingdom cannot stand. And if a house is divided against itself,  that house will not be able to stand. And if Satan has risen up against himself and is divided,  he cannot stand;  that is the end of him. But no one can enter a strong man’s house to plunder his property unless he first ties up the strong man. Then he can plunder his house.  Amen, I say to you, all sins and all blasphemies that people utter will be forgiven them. But whoever blasphemes against the Holy Spirit will never have forgiveness, but is guilty of an everlasting sin.” For they had said, “He has an unclean spirit.”

In Volume Three, our Blessed Mother helps us to narrow our focus to her Son and His goals for us:

"If you have a situation that is unclear to you, and you wish heavenly guidance, you have only to ask. I urge you to bring divine counsel into every area of your life. As we sift through each area, we will weed out the earthly motivations and insert heavenly motivations. This process will move swiftly. The more committed you are to Christ, the more swiftly it can move. Afterwards, you will work so much more efficiently. You will be happier, more content, and souls will be attracted to you because of your singular focus. My children, all earthly education and teachings pale in comparison to the infused knowledge with which we wish to visit you. Be confident that you will have the ability to do anything we ask of you. Do not fear. Fear is not from God and prevents many soldiers from successfully completing their missions. Cast away fear and let us enjoy peace instead. I am with you and bless you. I will never leave you and your concerns will be my concerns. Look to souls who are led by me and you will see the peace in their faces. This is what I have for you. Heed my call, now, children. The time for service is today." 

Lay apostles, I want to leave you today with valuable quotes from some of the speakers:

James MacNeil: Discomfort + Hope = Motivation
Rudy Giuliani: Preparation is what reduces fear - relentless preparation
Tom Ziglar: What you feed your mind determines your appetite
Adam Ginsberg: Success is the result of good judgement 
Dr. Clarice Fluitt: Immaturity resists change
James Smith: Stop wearing NFL players names on your back . . . they aren't wearing yours!
Kendra Todd: If it is to be, it will be me
Les Brown: Someones opinion of you doesn't have to become your reality; provide more service than you get paid for; give before you ask
Tom Hopkins: Failure = learning experience

Thank you, Lord, for putting my motivation where it needs to be . . . leading to You! And thank you for the beautiful souls of all the Lead & Succeed speakers!

God bless,
Bonnie

Beautiful Article about Direction for Our Times

(Received in email from DFOT) A beautifully written letter from a pastor in the state of Washington . . . 

Pastor’s Column

December 8, 2013

Developing a Personal Relationship with Jesus

Greetings in Christ.

In 1996 at the age of 26, I began to have a conversion experience that ultimately culminated in my becoming a priest. The one defining characteristic of my conversion has been coming to know, love and serve Jesus Christ in what is popularly known as a personal relationship. From polling and antidotal evidence it is clear that most Catholics wouldn’t describe themselves as having a personal relationship with Our Lord. This is unfortunate, even tragic really, because without a personal relationship with Jesus Christ, most people will not give Him their entire life. I certainly would not have become a priest without this personal relationship, and Jesus would have to vie with family, career and my passions for my priorities and focus.

About six years ago I read a book entitled: Climbing the Mountain by Anne: a lay apostle. Finally, I had a book in my possession that I thought could help so many others to know Jesus (God) enough to begin having a personal relationship with Him. Since then, I have read all of Anne’s writings from her publishing moniker: Direction for Our Times. Her books all have a powerful ability to clearly convey how heaven thinks and operates especially in contrast with the incorrect thinking and living in our world today. Because of someone’s generous donation, we have been able to order two thousand of Anne’s first book: Volume # 1: Thoughts on Spirituality. I beg you to read it. Outside of the Bible, I feel that The Volumes are the easiest, surest spiritual reading to a life in God. On November 11, 2013 Anne’s bishop granted an Imprimatur for all of the writings for Direction for Our Times; the books have a Nihil Obstat as well. The Imprimatur and Nihil Obstat are an official declaration that a book or pamphlet are free of doctrinal or moral error and that ecclesiastical permission for its publication has been granted. I encourage you to go on-line to Direction for Our Times and order all of The Volumes. Like scripture they keep on giving, I am now on my third or fourth reading of The Volumes.

Advent has begun, a great time to focus on developing or deepening our personal relationship with Jesus. Advent is a season when the Lord would like us all to slow down and quiet down so as to spiritually prepare ourselves to meet Him on His birthday. Yet the season has been hijacked by consumerism over the decades, and so instead of the silence, etc., we get hustle and bustle. Today we “celebrate” the Christmas season from Thanksgiving until Christmas day. The Church traditionally celebrates the season of Christmas for three weeks: beginning with Christmas Eve night and ending with the Baptism of the Lord. What a wonderful world and life it would be if each of us would use what is left of Advent to grow spiritually instead of stressfully. Here are some helpful ideas. 

1) Reclaim silence. We need it in order to hear God and to be sane. Please cut back on the radio, background music, TV, internet, hand held devices, etc., and reclaim what all of humanity enjoyed from the foundation of the world until the middle of the 20th century – a little silence.

2) Prayer. And Jesus said: “It is necessary to pray always without ceasing.”

3) Spiritual reading. Now that you have one of The Volumes in addition to your Bible, it’s just a matter of discipline. Two or three pages a day of Volume #1 will do you and others wonders.

4) Attend weekday Masses if you can. There is no greater devotional practice nor means to deeper conversion than this. Take advantage of it while priests are still around to offer it.

5) Frequent Confession. The saints and holiest people I know use this sacrament frequently; think there’s any connection? Boundless humility on our part, and boundless grace on God’s part, is the secret to the fruit of the confessional. Use it frequently. Start with once a month and then increase from there.

Yours in Christ’s Love,

Fr. Thomas Nathe Pastor 

No Guessing at Training Camp . . . Easy to Identify:

Blogger: love of my life, Jay!

Every year, the NFL holds a draft for the college athletes looking to move on and play professionally. Right there, on the day of the draft, the players are given their first pieces of clothing identifying them with their new team (typically a ball cap and a jersey).

The day they show for training camp, they are given more gear, equipment, and workout clothes that definitively identify them as a member of that team. The team logo is on

their jersey, on their helmet, on their socks, on their shirt under their pads . . . it is on everything. There is no guessing if the team considers them one of their own.

Now, these players also understand that they could be cut from the roster at any point. It could be during the season . . . it could be right before the first game of the season . . . it could be on the first day of practice. Regardless, at no point in their journey are they or anyone around them questioning if they are a member of that team.

In Saturdays Gospel (Mark 16:15-18), Jesus asks His eleven apostles to go out and preach the Gospel to every creature. He goes on to say that those who believe in His name will easily be identified:

Jesus appeared to the Eleven and said to them: “Go into the whole world and proclaim the Gospel to every creature. Whoever believes and is baptized will be saved; whoever does not believe will be condemned. These signs will accompany those who believe: in my name they will drive out demons, they will speak new languages. They will pick up serpents with their hands, and if they drink any deadly thing, it will not harm them. They will lay hands on the sick, and they will recover.”

In the Monthly Message from August 2006, Jesus talks about the gifts that can only be received by Him:

"I send My apostles the grace necessary for a calm spirit. With this calm spirit, My followers will bring heavenly calm to a restless world that trembles with unease. Live your commitment to time spent in silent prayer and I will place these heavenly graces in your soul. Others will identify these graces in you because these gifts are contrary to the gifts offered by the world. This is another way that My apostles stand out." 

Lay apostles, can you be easily identified as a someone who follows Jesus Christ the Returning King? Do your actions speak louder than your words?

Thank you, Lord, for showing me the path I need to take in order to become more recognizable as one of Your followers. 

Humbly and Gratefully Yours,

Jay

41st March for Life in Washington DC

Thinking about all those who braved the cold in Washington D.C. today and remembering participating with my oldest daughter Mallorie 4 years ago. A day neither of us will forget! Thank you to all those who continue the fight for life!  Through Christ, all things are possible!

Mallorie with the Lepanto Foundation from Italy 2010.

God bless,

Bonnie

What Am I Afraid Of?

People who know me well, know I don't like surprises. I am a researcher by nature, and can find out just about anything with a little effort. I assess every situation I encounter with worst case/best case scenarios. It's a defense mechanism I have developed over the years. My brain automatically deciphers potential outcomes, good and bad. Although I look for the good, it doesn't take long for the warning sirens to go off when something doesn't feel right. If I find physical evidence of anything I suspect, well, let's just say it's hard to control the urge to confront the offender. Tough love has its place. Being a part of this apostolate has taught me to look past the offense to the wounded little boy or girl who is offending. To stop worrying about what others think or say about me. Jesus knows the truth, and fear doesn't come from Him. Fear causes people to act out of character when they let it overwhelm them. And can cause a little damage when allowed to fester. Once you allow evil in, it begins taking up residence if you let it. So, what am I afraid of? Other than swimming in the ocean with sharks, nothing. Worst case scenario on earth is you die . . . which in fact is the best case scenario when you are on track for heaven!

In todays Gospel (Mark 3:1-6), the Pharisees witness a miracle, yet fear prods them to plot against Jesus:

Jesus entered the synagogue. There was a man there who had a withered hand. They watched Jesus closely to see if he would cure him on the sabbath so that they might accuse him. He said to the man with the withered hand, “Come up here before us.” Then he said to the Pharisees, “Is it lawful to do good on the sabbath rather than to do evil, to save life rather than to destroy it?”  But they remained silent. Looking around at them with anger and grieved at their hardness of heart, Jesus said to the man, “Stretch out your hand.” He stretched it out and his hand was restored. The Pharisees went out and immediately took counsel with the Herodians against him to put him to death.


In Volume Four, Jesus the King gives us the answer to living without fear:

"My children, I am giving you the antidote for grief, for fear, and for anxiety. When you remain in the present, viewing the world with My eyes and from My viewpoint, you have little to concern yourselves with aside from serving Me and allowing Me to work through you. This is the answer to the ills and darkness of your modern world. It is something that requires practice, it is true. But, like any habit, it becomes something quite easy once you are accustomed to doing it. I want each soul to know Me. I can give you this knowledge of Me if you want it but you must allow Me to do so."  

Lay apostles, think about a situation which made you angry or uncomfortable. Write it down. And then ponder why it was so upsetting. Worried about losing your job? Your spouse? Your life? Then, as Jesus says in the quote from Volume Four above, view everything through His Eyes. See the fear the enemy is swirling through your head and know, without a doubt, God is in control . . . and we must let Him have it!

Thank you, Lord, for showing me my fears are only my lack of focus on You. Help me to remain in constant communication with You in all matters, allowing You to lead me!

God bless,
Bonnie

Whistle While You Work

As the mother of three daughters, I loved the Disney princesses as much as the girls did (and still do!). After reading todays Gospel, this song from Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs popped into my head:



A little nostalgia to put a smile on your face! Think about how joyful Snow White is while embarking on a big clean up project. Is she doing this alone? No. She has surrounded herself with others who share in the work (ok, so they are animals, but you get the picture!). Are we as joyful when faced with difficult tasks or decisions? Do we call in for help or support from heaven or other likeminded Christians when we don't know where to begin? My answer is most of the time. But I am getting better. There is so much work to be done in this world for Our Savior, lay apostles. Jesus is thankful for even the smallest attempt toward putting Him first. So, whistle while you work, joyful knowing you are building God's Kingdom on earth.

Todays Gospel (Mark 2:23-28) shows us that we must always put Him first: 

As Jesus was passing through a field of grain on the sabbath, his disciples began to make a path while picking the heads of grain. At this the Pharisees said to him, “Look, why are they doing what is unlawful on the sabbath?” He said to them, “Have you never read what David did when he was in need and he and his companions were hungry? How he went into the house of God when Abiathar was high priest and ate the bread of offering that only the priests could lawfully eat, and shared it with his companions?” Then he said to them, “The sabbath was made for man, not man for the sabbath. That is why the Son of Man is lord even of the sabbath.”

In Volume Four, Jesus the King asks us to do our own share of work for heaven, trusting Him to be responsible for His part:

"The process of My return has begun. You are the avenues through which these graces will flow. Open your hearts to Me now, little souls of the Kingdom. Watch in amazement how My Spirit flows through you. You need do nothing exceptional except be open to My will. I will do everything. When you feel pressure, it is because you are attempting to do My work for Me. Who could do the work of God? Certainly not a little learning soul who is attempting to find perfection in a very imperfect world. Let Me work through you. Let Me love you and support you as I make the necessary changes in your soul that will allow Me to flow through you uninhibited. All is well, My beloved children. You need worry over nothing."  

Lay apostles, everyone is watching . . . our kids, our families, our friends, our acquaintances . . . to see if we live as we preach. When you introduce others to this apostolate, are you living proof Jesus' words govern your life? Take a look at how others perceive you, especially your own family. Do you act and react with the love and kindness of Christ? Something I am working on in 2014!

Thank you, Lord, for joy in my heart when working to build Your Kingdom. And thank you for the extra gentle shove when the joy is harder to come by!

God bless,
Bonnie

The Power of His Love

Now, more than ever, I need to place full and complete trust in Jesus. Not that I don't . . . but sometimes fear can take over, clouding the fact He is in control of EVERYTHING. My youngest daughter is moving to California in a few weeks, and it has been tearing my heart up. I raised my girls to truly follow their hearts and their dreams . . . only not so far away from me. 3,000 miles isn't a quick car ride or plane flight. I know this is her journey and wherever and to whomever it leads her, my prayer is she is safe and surrounded by good, God-loving people. She has let Him lead her in making a decision, so I know this is where she needs to be at this point in time. I have finally stepped back and I am ready to let Him parent her now . . . to watch over her as I have all these years (of course with Him by my side!). The power of His Love is great, lay apostles. There comes a time when we all need to grow up and make our own decisions, based on what is best for us. This is her time. Please keep Taylor in your prayers as she begins this new chapter in her life. I love you Tay Tay, with all my heart!

Todays Gospel (Mark 1:21-28) provides evidence of His great power:

Jesus came to Capernaum with his followers, and on the sabbath he entered the synagogue and taught. The people were astonished at his teaching, for he taught them as one having authority and not as the scribes. In their synagogue was a man with an unclean spirit; he cried out, “What have you to do with us, Jesus of Nazareth? Have you come to destroy us? I know who you are–the Holy One of God!”  Jesus rebuked him and said, “Quiet! Come out of him!” The unclean spirit convulsed him and with a loud cry came out of him. All were amazed and asked one another, “What is this? A new teaching with authority. He commands even the unclean spirits and they obey him.” His fame spread everywhere throughout the whole region of Galilee.

In Volume Four, God the Father describes the power of His love for us:

"Please have no fears. Understand that the Father wills these changes on earth so that the Son will be welcomed in the hearts of those remaining. We do not manifest as a poor boy in the stable. We manifest as the King of Creation. My Son is your God. I am your God. Our spirit flows through your world in such a way today that none can deny the heavenly times. The enemy will deny Our spirit. But you expect that, dear ones. That denial detracts in no way from truth. Truth flows right over the enemy despite the feeble objections of evil. I, the God of All Creation, can slap down and destroy evil with a glance. I allow a certain amount of evil to co-exist because My children can then discern between light and darkness, in the same way a child is taught to discriminate between cold and hot. Children, if you desire to blame Me for the state of the world, your ancestors in heaven will bow their heads in disappointment. Do not be so ridiculous. I do not will catastrophe upon My children. I do allow a certain amount of upheaval so that attention will be focused away from the ever present diversion of material goods. In line with this goal, I will begin to remove many material comforts. Consider this a liberating experience, earthly creatures. Your losses on earth are nothing in comparison to the loss you will experience if you choose darkness. Be humble and accepting in everything and together We will prepare the world for the Return of My Son." 

Lay apostles, are you facing something causing fear to creep in? Stop and take a deep breath. Focus on the fact He is in control and what may be causing you fear is something He knows will benefit all in the long run. And, especially benefit His Kingdom on earth. 

Thank you, Lord, for the blessing of a daughter who loves You and will glorify Your Name in a world of darkness. Let her be the light she wishes to see in the world.

God bless,
Bonnie

P.S. If anyone reading this needs an amazing photographer in California, take a look at Taylor's work: www.tlphotos.net

Drop What You're Doing

Spontaneity is not my forte . . . I can go with the flow if I have to, but I am a planner at heart. One thing I love about Jay (of the many thousands I could list!) is he could be taking the trash out and come back in the house and say, "Bonnie, come outside! I want to show you something!" If I'm tired or in the middle of a project, I tend to ask if it can wait. His response is usually "no, please come out here!" When I do, it is always to show me something beautiful . . . like a full moon, a jet in flight, or a sky filled with stars. Over time, I have stopped asking if it could wait and head outside to see what he is marveling at. The childlike sound in his voice when viewing God's creations while wrapped in his arms is worth every little effort. So, drop what you're doing long enough to appreciate the beauty God has provided for our time on earth. Drop what you're doing to listen to God's call for your life. Listen, you will hear Him speak!

In yesterdays Gospel (Mark 1: 14-20), the apostles didn't hesitate to follow Jesus: 

After John had been arrested, Jesus came to Galilee proclaiming the Gospel of God: “This is the time of fulfillment. The Kingdom of God is at hand. Repent, and believe in the Gospel.”

As he passed by the Sea of Galilee, he saw Simon and his brother Andrew casting their nets into the sea; they were fishermen. Jesus said to them, “Come after me, and I will make you fishers of men.” Then they left their nets and followed him. He walked along a little farther and saw James, the son of Zebedee, and his brother John. They too were in a boat mending their nets. Then he called them. So they left their father Zebedee in the boat
along with the hired men and followed him.

In Volume One, Thoughts on Spirituality, Anne a lay apostle identifies the answer to our search for comfort:

"The call to our God comes from our center, and when we are in pain, it becomes louder and more insistent. Instead of answering the call and dropping to their knees saying, “God, God, make haste to help me,” people go to health food stores, fortune tellers, Reiki practitioners, and all manner of holders of empty promises. The anguish, the groaning, is the soul, saying, 'Please, dear person, I am starving. Feed me with spiritual food that I may begin to flourish again, thereby granting you the peace you find so elusive.'"  

Lay apostles, what are your goals for 2014? To live a healthier life? To make more money? To lose weight? I have some questions for you . . . is Jesus on that list? Is making more time for Him in Adoration there, too? What about some spiritual reading? Make sure He is at the top of your list this year (and every year!). 

Thank you, Lord, for encouraging Jay and me to make You our priority, letting go of what can be let go of. 

God bless,
Bonnie

That's What It's All About

Guest blogger: my love, Jay Crandall!

This last Wednesday at Rotary, Rabbi Adam Miller gave the opening invocation for the group. He began by talking about the significance of the song ”Hokey Pokey” not only for us as children, but for us adult Rotarians. He spoke about how as the song progresses, the singer is putting more of themselves IN and moving more of themselves OUT just to

acknowledge that's what it's all about!

He went on to share that in Rotary we are asked to put more of ourselves IN with each year and yet move ourselves OUT more each year (less about US and more about others and service to others) as we mature in Rotary . . . and again . . . that's what it's all about. It made me think that I am (we are) being called to do exactly that in this mission! For me, more IN every year . . . every day. More Christ every year . . . every day. More Peace, more Joy, more Enthusiasm every year . . . every day. And, less me . . . less ego, that's what it IS all about.

In today’ Gospel (John 3:22-30), John recognizes that his job is almost complete and thus the message . . . more of Christ, less of me:

Jesus and his disciples went into the region of Judea, where he spent some time with them baptizing. John was also baptizing in Aenon near Salim, because there was an abundance of water there, and people came to be baptized, for John had not yet been imprisoned. Now a dispute arose between the disciples of John and a Jew about ceremonial washings.  So they came to John and said to him, “Rabbi, the one who was with you across the Jordan, to whom you testified, here he is baptizing and everyone is coming to him.” John answered and said, “No one can receive anything except what has been given from heaven. You yourselves can testify that I said that I am not the Christ, but that I was sent before him. The one who has the bride is the bridegroom; the best man, who stands and listens for him, rejoices greatly at the bridegroom’s voice. So this joy of mine has been made complete. He must increase; I must decrease.”

In the February 2007 Monthly Message, Jesus wants us incrementally to improve our relationship with Him:

"Look at each situation, regardless of how seemingly unimportant, and try to be obedient. You do not do this alone, but with Me, because together we work on your spiritual growth. It is our job, yours and mine. It is our project. It is an interesting and joyful project to Me. I love nothing better than helping you to improve the condition of your soul. As your soul’s condition improves, you learn more and more about Me and how much I love you. Do you want to learn more about how much I love you? Practice obedience in small things. I do not expect you to become perfect at once. Do not expect this of yourself. Be gentle with yourself. I love you so much that I do not want you to judge yourself harshly. In the same way, I will never be harsh with you. I will never be hard or cold. You are cherished, my beloved one. I am your Jesus, always here for you. Take My hand and I will lead you closer to obedience each day."

Lay apostles, do you continue to put more of you into your relationship with Christ? At the same time, do you ask that His presence becomes greater in you . . . so that the world experiences more of Him through you? 

Thank you, Lord, for Your patience and the gift of Your love as we take steps to move closer to You each day.

Humbly and gratefully,

Jay

Pope Francis, A Beautiful Soul

Time magazine's Person of the Year? That was a shocker . . . only because it is such a liberal magazine. There is so much good in the world, and our pope is a living example of how each of us should live our lives. This beautiful soul has shot "selfies" with young people; washed the feet of prisoners; and Huffington Post has stated, "Pope Francis is a good man for all religions." No wonder even atheists are listening . . . love, joy, respect . . . who wouldn't want to hear what he has to say! He asks questions of us, giving us much to ponder. This is one of my favorites: 

"If God is like the merciful father in the parable of the prodigal son (see Luke 15:11-32), what is God waiting for you to do in your life right now?"

When I read yesterdays Gospel (Luke 5:12-16), my mind went immediately to this picture of our beloved Pope Francis:

It happened that there was a man full of leprosy in one of the towns where Jesus was; and when he saw Jesus, he fell prostrate, pleaded with him, and said, “Lord, if you wish, you can make me clean.” Jesus stretched out his hand, touched him, and said, “I do will it. Be made clean.” And the leprosy left him immediately. Then he ordered him not to tell anyone, but “Go, show yourself to the priest and offer for your cleansing what Moses prescribed; that will be proof for them.” The report about him spread all the more, and great crowds assembled to listen to him and to be cured of their ailments, but he would withdraw to deserted places to pray.

In Anne a lay apostle's book Whispers From the Cross, she directs us to remember the importance of our Holy Father:

"People drowning out the voice of the Holy Father through rebellion and disagreement are pulling against God Himself. How can we advance without the power of unity? It cannot be done. Consider a herd of cattle and the effort to move them to another place. A unified forward momentum is necessary and all efforts at advancing the herd go to this objective, which is, keeping the cattle moving in the same direction. God wills renewal. We are charged with participating in this renewal. In order to do our part we must make sure that we fall in behind the Holy Father in a spirit of humility and unity. There will always be those claiming to be savvier than the Holy Father, or better informed, or more sophisticated. Often they do not say this outright but imply it with subtle reproaches that signal arrogance and superiority. It can be difficult to sift through these things when those who rebel possess great learning. Those of us lacking such study can find ourselves intimidated. But we should not be. We should feel confident in the leadership of our Pontiff and offer our simplicity and lack of sophistication to the Lord, who will honor our fidelity with dignity and holiness. When someone claims to be more ‘in the know’ than our Pope, we must be very alert indeed. There are those who will argue, “He is just a man and he does not always lay claim to infallibility.” To this I would respond “True. He, himself would say the same, but he is the only person chosen to lead as Pope at this time.” He is certainly more chosen than I am to lead the Church and this statement applies to every other person on earth."

Lay apostles, Pope Francis has made a significant impact in our world, opening the eyes of even the media to the beauty of our Faith, and what being a Catholic should "look" like. Listen to what our Holy Father is saying . . . for he is leading us to our ultimate destination.

Thank you, Lord, for blessing us with not only Pope Francis, but all the good men who have preceded him as Your Vicar on earth. 

God bless,
Bonnie

It All Boils Down to Love

My 17-month old grandson Colton is a hoot. He has the cutest sayings . . . "abobbin" means "I want more." When he spots my computer, he rushes to it saying "bra! bra!" Which means he wants to watch the Disney trailer for the movie Planes called "Meet El Chupacabra." And one of my favorites . . . when I am pushing him on his swing, I'll say, "ready, set . . ." and Colt will say "goo!" Phonically, he doesn't say it like "go" is pronounced. He kind of says it like goo (as in muck, or gunk!). His little personality is really becoming apparent . . . he loves being silly and loves when I try to scare him playing hide and seek. He squeals with laughter and then runs to hide so I can surprise him again (we do this for a least 10 minutes several times a day when I watch him!). The love I feel for this baby boy when he snuggles against me to rock him to sleep is immense. He brings me so much joy and hope. Joy knowing he will know Jesus and feel loved. Hope that in a world where many distance themselves from Christ, Colt will be one of the good guys. It all boils down to love, lay apostles. Love like you've never loved before. Start now, beginning with Our Savior.

In todays Gospel (Luke 4:14-22), Jesus begins His public ministry in His own hometown . . . where His Words bring those listening and ready to hear the truth . . . hope:

Jesus returned to Galilee in the power of the Spirit, and news of him spread throughout the whole region. He taught in their synagogues and was praised by all.

He came to Nazareth, where he had grown up, and went according to his custom into the synagogue on the sabbath day. He stood up to read and was handed a scroll of the prophet Isaiah.  He unrolled the scroll and found the passage where it was written:

The Spirit of the Lord is upon me,

because he has anointed me

to bring glad tidings to the poor.

He has sent me to proclaim liberty to captives

and recovery of sight to the blind,

to let the oppressed go free,

and to proclaim a year acceptable to the Lord.

Rolling up the scroll, he handed it back to the attendant and sat down, and the eyes of all in the synagogue looked intently at him. He said to them, “Today this Scripture passage is fulfilled in your hearing.”  And all spoke highly of him and were amazed at the gracious words that came from his mouth. 


In Volume Three, our Blessed Mother clearly defines a true follower of Christ (and what each of us must strive for every day):

"We have talked in the past about the modern version of love, which is not love at all, but exploitation. True love, heavenly love, is genuine. You know it is genuine because it creates security. Consider those with whom you are comfortable. Do you see that those souls carry true love within them? It is safe to be with them because they carry a seed of God in them and that is what generates love. It is that seed you respond to when you feel comfortable and safe with a person. Well, dear ones, I have to tell you that fewer and fewer carry that seed of love and that is why so many of your fellow brothers and sisters have fallen prey to diseases of the mind. Man was not meant to live without love in his life. He should walk through each day and experience a little love in this person, that person, and ideally, through every soul who has contact with him. The light has been extinguished in many souls and they have nothing to give in the way of love. Gradually, love in this person goes out too. Now a person can survive quite nicely if he is nurtured by divine love. That is not a problem. But few souls are accepting divine love. Think about most of the souls you know. How many can you say have a lively connection to Jesus Christ? You will know them because they stand out. Why do they stand out? Because they are joyful. They smile. They love others with simplicity and easiness. They worry for each other and tolerate and understand the faults of others. They seek to help others whenever they can. They are not ruled by addictions and jealousies. They do not acquire goods for the sake of acquiring goods. They speak the truth. They accept responsibility for their actions. And they like and respect children. How many souls of this description did you identify, dear one? I leave you with that thought and ask you to understand that this description should fit everyone." 

Lay apostles, the passage above from Volume Three profoundly affected Jay and me this morning. This is what we both strive for every day. This is what Jesus Christ the Returning King has blessed us with . . . true love. A love free of fear or insecurities. We accept each other completely, for better or for worse. Read and reread the words of Our Lady. Print them out or write them down. Then check in at the end of the day, asking yourself if the description fits you. As she said, it should fit everyone.

Thank you, Lord, for teaching me how to love with all my heart and all my soul. And for all the love You have brought into my life! 

God bless,
Bonnie

Miracles Right Before Our Eyes . . . But Are They Real?

How many times have you witnessed something miraculous happening to others, or even to yourself? And then the next day wondering when the next "miracle" will occur? Man, I know I've been there before. But now I take nothing for granted. He has blessed me with so many "miracles," I choose to focus on those, thankful for everything. If I remain focused on what I don't have, still wanting, I miss out on so many opportunities to thank Him, showing my love for Him. I just rocked my grandson Colton to sleep (hence my ability to get some writing done!), looking at his beautiful, peaceful face as he was falling asleep. One of the many miracles God has placed in my life. And I get to focus on this little miracle three days a week. Yes, miracles are real . . . and right before our eyes.

Two of my little "miracles." Grandsons Colton and Connor!

Todays Gospel (Mark 6:45-52) demonstrates how even the apostles witnessed miracles, yet continued to question if they were real:

After the five thousand had eaten and were satisfied, Jesus made his disciples get into the boat and precede him to the other side toward Bethsaida, while he dismissed the crowd. And when he had taken leave of them, he went off to the mountain to pray. When it was evening, the boat was far out on the sea and he was alone on shore. Then he saw that they were tossed about while rowing, for the wind was against them. About the fourth watch of the night, he came toward them walking on the sea. He meant to pass by them. But when they saw him walking on the sea, they thought it was a ghost and cried out. They had all seen him and were terrified.  But at once he spoke with them, “Take courage, it is I, do not be afraid!” He got into the boat with them and the wind died down. They were completely astounded. They had not understood the incident of the loaves. On the contrary, their hearts were hardened.

In Volume Four, Jesus explains His Love is real:

"Let me tell you about Me, so you will understand who loves you, and who it is you are being called to follow. I walked your earth as you do. I saw the failings of mankind as you see them. I was grieved at the injustices, in the same way that you are grieved when you see things that are not fair. Did I grow bitter? No. I did not. Why was that? Because I am God? No. I was God on earth but I was God trapped in man’s body and constrained by the limitations of the body. I did this so that when it came time for you to follow Me you could not say that it was easy for Me because I was God. I did not use My divinity except during the last three years and then only to heal, cure, and otherwise support My claim that I was the King of Heaven, come down to lead all back to the Father. I did not waste miracles on those who would reject Me, regardless of proof of My divinity. Do you intend to reject Me? You are Mine, dearest soul. Come back to Me that I may introduce you to love and joy." 

Lay apostles, are you dismissing past miracles which have occurred in your life? Take a minute and think about all you have been blessed with. Good health? Children? Grandchildren? The comfort of shelter in the cold? A car to drive? A cell phone to connect with others? Strong Faith? The list can go on and on. Don't take anything for granted. Look for the miracles every day . . . you will be surprised by all He graces us with!

Thank you, Lord, for all the miracles in my life . . .  Jay, our girls, sons-in-law, grandsons, family, friends and all the other blessings too numerous to write down!

God bless,
Bonnie

He Will Provide . . . Trust Him!

"Somehow God hasn't seen my business plan yet!" Jay says lightheartedly when things don't proceed exactly as he anticipated. But we both know His business plan is much better than ours. It's all about trusting Our Father knows best. There are many twists and turns in life . . . and looking back, I can see how Jesus gently (and sometimes not so gently when I wasn't listening!) changed my direction when I was headed into disaster or toward something which took my attention away from Him.  As I get older (become more mature) and inherit the clarity and wisdom the Volumes provide, those twists and turns become a roller coaster ride (ok, not a fan of roller coasters, so let's say the "It's a Small World" ride at DisneyWorld!) . . . full of adventure, joy, and peace. Remember, He will provide . . . trust Him!


The Gospel from yesterday (Mark 6:34-44) is a perfect example of trusting what He says:

When Jesus saw the vast crowd, his heart was moved with pity for them, for they were like sheep without a shepherd; and he began to teach them many things.  By now it was already late and his disciples approached him and said, “This is a deserted place and it is already very late.  Dismiss them so that they can go to the surrounding farms and villages and buy themselves something to eat.”  He said to them in reply, “Give them some food yourselves.” But they said to him, “Are we to buy two hundred days’ wages worth of food and give it to them to eat?”  He asked them, “How many loaves do you have? Go and see.”  And when they had found out they said, “Five loaves and two fish.”  So he gave orders to have them sit down in groups on the green grass.  The people took their places in rows by hundreds and by fifties.  Then, taking the five loaves and the two fish and looking up to heaven, he said the blessing, broke the loaves, and gave them to his disciples to set before the people; he also divided the two fish among them all. They all ate and were satisfied. And they picked up twelve wicker baskets full of fragments and what was left of the fish. Those who ate of the loaves were five thousand men.

In Heaven Speaks to Those Who Suffer From Financial Need, St. Augustine gives us good advice when fear of suffering creeps in:

"During this time, many are suffering from financial difficulties. Is heaven any less present? This is the same as in many periods of history. Be at peace in all circumstances around you and you will find that God gives you what you need to serve Him in each day. If you are hungry, offer this to God, even while asking Him to provide you with more food. God will make you a saint quickly in these circumstances and you will experience spiritual richness. If you have enough and you are not hungry, deny yourself food periodically. Simply do not eat for a day and offer your hunger to God so that He can take your little sacrifice and obtain graces with which to feed others. Heaven will help you to understand God’s will in either situation, either poverty or affluence." 

Lay apostles, whether it's struggling with finances, tough decisions, or a lack of direction, turn to Jesus. Tell Him your problems while trusting He is listening. And He is listening, working to send you the graces you need to get through your suffering. There is a whole bunch of heavenly coordinating taking place. Be patient your answer is right around the corner. In the meantime, keep learning from Scripture, the Volumes and anything bringing you closer to Christ. Most importantly, stay connected to Him in prayer.

Thank you, Lord, for providing love, joy and peace in my life. Help me remain connected to You through prayer and trust.

God bless,
Bonnie