Make Me Clean, Lord!

Last night Jay and I had the honor of dinner with our lay apostle prayer group. The love and fellowship we share is special . . . the only way to describe it is heavenly. It's as if, in being a part of this apostolate, we have a sneak peek into eternity. We all share the knowledge and find peace in the words of Jesus given to Anne a lay apostle. We all realize the only way we will assist heaven in saving souls is to be a shining example of His Love on earth. All I can say is . . . Jesus is a Rock Star! To give those of us trying to do our best for Him a group of friends so loving and supportive is beyond anything I could wish for. Jay and I love you guys: Joyce and Paul, Karen and Stan, Judy and Ed. Thank you for standing on the front lines with us for Christ . . . and, for all the laughs (yes, we need to find the movie Heidi and have a movie day!).

Dinner at Origami's in Fort Myers! Awesome sushi!!

Todays Gospel (Mark 1:40-45) makes it clear . . . Jesus can do anything:

A leper came to him and kneeling down begged him and said, “If you wish, you can make me clean.” Moved with pity, he stretched out his hand, touched the leper, and said to him,  “I do will it. Be made clean.” The leprosy left him immediately, and he was made clean. Then, warning him sternly, he dismissed him at once. Then he said to him, “See that you tell no one anything, but go, show yourself to the priest and offer for your cleansing what Moses prescribed; that will be proof for them.” The man went away and began to publicize the whole matter. He spread the report abroad so that it was impossible for Jesus to enter a town openly. He remained outside in deserted places, and people kept coming to him from everywhere.

In Anne a lay apostle's new book Transforming Grace, she describes, perfectly I must say, how to stay focused on shining the light on ourselves, not pointing a spotlight at others:

"Because if we are not in a position at this time to follow all of the 'do's and don't's,' that is one thing. We are accepted by Christ in love, no question. Christ sees each of us as a work in progress. But if we assume that everyone who has ordered his or her life to the 'do's and don't's' is a closet Pharisee who judges all day long, then WE are getting it wrong and this is an attitude that is not in keeping with the people Jesus Christ was attracted to during His life."

Lay apostles, what company are you keeping? Are you trying to live Jesus on a daily basis? I don't mean just saying you are a Christian . . . I mean ACTING as Christ did to the best of your ability. Small gestures, actions of compassion, and showing kindness to everyone you come in contact with is what Jesus is asking of us. In a bad mood today? Ask Jesus to "make you clean!" 

Thank you, Lord, for cleaning up my life, providing me a loving husband, family and friends. Please continue to nudge me when the dirt starts accumulating!

God bless,
Bonnie