No Excuses, Just Truth

The truth can be devastating. It can also set us free. Admitting our poor choices takes too much effort, so excuses usually suffice. It sugar coats the reality we live day to day. The problem is, it will all catch up to us at some point. As Christians, we are called to speak the Truth . . . so why do we continue to make ourselves appear happier, smarter, more powerful, richer, etc. than we really are? Excuses. Facing the reality of who we are and what we have become could mean we are just like every other human being . . . flawed. Yes, I am imperfect. But every day I try my best to overcome my flaws and do it a little better than I did the day before. Some times I succeed. Some times I fail. Each day God gives me on this earth is an opportunity to become holier, drawing closer to my Heavenly Father. After all, I will meet Him Face to face some day. And, there will be no excuses allowed.

In todays Gospel (Luke 14:15-24) Jesus, in so many words, asks us to STOP making excuses and focus on God:

One of those at table with Jesus said to him, "Blessed is the one who will dine in the Kingdom of God." He replied to him, "A man gave a great dinner to which he invited many. When the time for the dinner came, he dispatched his servant to say to those invited, 'Come, everything is now ready.' But one by one, they all began to excuse themselves. The first said to him, 'I have purchased a field and must go to examine it; I ask you, consider me excused.' And another said, 'I have purchased five yoke of oxen and am on my way to evaluate them; I ask you, consider me excused.' And another said, 'I have just married a woman, and therefore I cannot come.' The servant went and reported this to his master. Then the master of the house in a rage commanded his servant, 'Go out quickly into the streets and alleys of the town and bring in here the poor and the crippled, the blind and the lame.' The servant reported, 'Sir, your orders have been carried out and still there is room.' The master then ordered the servant, 'Go out to the highways and hedgerows and make people come in that my home may be filled. For, I tell you, none of those men who were invited will taste my dinner.'"

In Volume Two, Jesus states very clearly to stay focused when encountering those who appear to reject God with one excuse after another:

"You must convey to a struggling soul that the answer for everything is with Me. He may say that you don’t understand that his problems are grave, complex, and unsolvable. He may cite reasons why he does not follow Me, always blaming others. The answers are all with Me. There is no reason to reject God. No excuse will gain pardon on judgment day. I have never shown a soul unkindness or cruelty. I deserve love, loyalty and respect. Understand My power and you will begin to understand My gentleness. Foolish souls equate gentleness with weakness. It is the truly strong who are wise enough to be gentle. So treat your brothers and sisters gently, particularly those who are not united to Me. They wound so easily. They do not have Me to console them when they are hurt. Can you imagine such loneliness? Would you like to return to a world that did not include Me in any way? Do not even imagine such a thing because I have promised not to let you go. Truly, I will not. But be compassionate. My child, have no fear about your future."

Lay apostles, is there someone or something you make excuses for? Do you make excuses for yourself so you appear to be better than others? Think about it. And, the next time you are about to utter an untruth, remember there will be no excuses on judgement day. Practice and humility is all it takes.

Thank you, Lord, for teaching me that no matter how imperfect I am, You see the real me with such love and compassion!

God bless,
Bonnie

Anne's Latest Talk on Angels

  

Watch this video for Anne's reflection on how the angels can help us to transform and grow in holiness.

 

August 28, 2004

Jesus

My children, you have advanced a great deal with regard to knowledge of your physical world and even in the study of the human body. But what you have discovered and uncovered is but a tip of the limitless body of knowledge that heavenly beings own. They understand how the physical body works and how it stops working. They understand the intimacies of each cell in the human body and with a glance can tell exactly what is wrong with someone who is sick. These angels, who work tirelessly for you and for your world, truly have constant access to the greatest store of knowledge and wisdom. These are good companions to have working alongside you. Your struggles are child’s play to them in the sense that they have the answers to life’s questions. They can advise you and counsel you but they cannot force you. So if you are determined to sin, they cannot stop you. At times, though, they can divert you from an occasion of sin. At other times they can secure a state of disinterest in sin when you are at risk. You will wonder at your disinterest in something that possibly had attracted you in the past. Thank the angels for this grace because they have obtained this state for you through their prayers. They rally support from your friends in heaven and know exactly who to attend for each type of assistance. When you understand how much your angel guardian has done for you in your lifetime, you will be overcome with gratitude, both to your tireless friend and to the God who assigned this little creation of love to you. Thank him and talk to him. You are not like a silly person who imagines things in doing so, but like a very wise man who looks at the universe and understands that he does not understand its secrets. Sit in silence with Me, little ones, and I will give you this wisdom. Pray to the angels and they will obtain it for you.

Click here to order

1 Case = 60 Volume Nine's at 60% off!

You or your prayer group can order these bulk quantities of Volume Nine at a huge discount in order to easily distribute these Volumes to others. This is a way to get the messages out to people at low cost. We are trying to reach out to as many people as we can.

Truly, most people do not pay for their first Volume. They are given it as a gift. This Volume Nine bulk activity will allow prayer groups and other lay apostles to have access to the Volumes and give them away at little or no cost to themselves. A person receiving a Volume is then invited to become a part of the mission.

 For more information click HERE


  

 

For European orders contact the Irish office: contactus@dfot.ie or +353 (0)49 4373040 

Have you been blessed through the Volumes? Please help others receive these words by donating a dollar a day. Your donation makes a big difference. 

 

Direction for Our Times (DFOT) is a 501(C)(3) non-profit organization dedicated to spreading God's messages as revealed in the Volumes.

Choices With Wisdom

Do you remember the movie Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade? Action-packed Harrison Ford movie . . . adventures you would never catch this squeamish-at-the-sight-of-anything-slimey-hopping-or-slithering kind of girl in close proximity to. Sitting safely in a movie theater or on the couch in the comfort of my own home makes it a virtual adventure and I can handle that! So, what was it about todays Gospel (Luke 6:12-16) that made me think of Indiana Jones? Basically, Jesus prayed about who would be His Twelve Apostles. He didn't just randomly pick from all His followers. He prayed for God's guidance in making the right decision . . . to do the Father's Will. There is a line in this movie which I find quite profound and related to todays Gospel:

Grail Knight: But choose wisely, for while the true Grail will bring you life, the false Grail will take it from you.

By Jesus choosing the Twelve He did, God's plan unfolded perfectly. Through His death and resurrection, we are saved:

Jesus went up to the mountain to pray, and he spent the night in prayer to God. When day came, he called his disciples to himself, and from them he chose Twelve, whom he also named Apostles: Simon, whom he named Peter, and his brother Andrew, James, John, Philip, Bartholomew, Matthew, Thomas, James the son of Alphaeus, Simon who was called a Zealot, and Judas the son of James, and Judas Iscariot, who became a traitor.

In Anne a lay apostle's book Lessons in Love, she describes beautifully how choosing wisely leads to living (and thriving in) a life for Christ:

"Young men and women of God, choose wisely. Ask yourself if the person you are dating is willing to view marriage through the eyes of Christ, never mind living it out that way. If the person you are dating does not share this sacramental view of marriage, how can we expect him or her to exercise it later? If the person you are dating does not view the formation of children with the most reverent sense of responsibility, how can we expect them to exercise it fully as a parent? Such cruel disappointment God’s children experience in unwise marriages, and yet, such humility from suffering and such miraculous healing of many marital unions."

Lay apostles, just as Christ called upon Our Father in heaven when He had to make some important choices, we must do the same. Pray for wisdom. Pray for the right answers. Choose wisely.

Thank you, Lord, for the lessons when I have chosen hastily and the graces when I have made choices after discussing it with You!

God bless,
Bonnie

Labeling Hypocrisy

What exactly is the meaning of hypocrisy? According to Dictionary.com, it means:

A pretense of having a virtuous character, moral or religious beliefs or principles, etc., that one does not really possess.
Years ago, as this apostolate began to show me how to have an intimate relationship with Jesus, there were some people who didn't appreciate the new me. As I was trying to become holier, the old Bonnie still emerged at times. I remember someone calling me a hypocrite every once in a while when I slipped back into old patterns instead of being the humble lay apostle I was striving to become. It felt like all my hard work would be dismissed over one slip. But what it taught me was I was being watched . . . and I must practice what I preach!

The Gospel (Luke 13:10-17) shows Jesus teaching the leader of a synagogue about hypocrisy:

Jesus was teaching in a synagogue on the sabbath. And a woman was there who for eighteen years had been crippled by a spirit; she was bent over, completely incapable of standing erect. When Jesus saw her, he called to her and said, "Woman, you are set free of your infirmity." He laid his hands on her, and she at once stood up straight and glorified God. But the leader of the synagogue, indignant that Jesus had cured on the sabbath, said to the crowd in reply, "There are six days when work should be done. Come on those days to be cured, not on the sabbath day." The Lord said to him in reply, "Hypocrites! Does not each one of you on the sabbath untie his ox or his ass from the manger and lead it out for watering? This daughter of Abraham, whom Satan has bound for eighteen years now, ought she not to have been set free on the sabbath day from this bondage?" When he said this, all his adversaries were humiliated; and the whole crowd rejoiced at all the splendid deeds done by him.

In Anne a lay apostle's book Lessons in Love, she reminds us to remain true to who we are:

"Because we serve in our humanity, it is true that we will not always set the example that either we or Jesus desires but let us strive to consider always, in our words and actions, what kind of example we are giving to others. There are some who position themselves around the place of the divine will, never entering, but claiming always to possess the attributes of the Architect of this place. These are the thieves and brigands. Suddenly, the word hypocrisy springs to mind. We must remember to be authentic. If we are having a hard time in holiness, we should not try to give the impression that we are worthy of canonization. Now the word humility springs to mind. If we are humble, we are proceeding in truth."

Lay apostles, at times we can become quite irritated with the actions of others and lash out. But what are we really irritated with? Is it something we see in ourselves being recreated in front of our eyes by someone else? Is it someone who says one thing and does another? Whatever it is, stay humble. We are all imperfect. Stay focused on the path to holiness.

Thank you, Lord, for the gift of humility. Continue to lead me on the path of holiness, leaving hypocrisy behind. Living my truth makes life so much easier!

God bless,
Bonnie

How Do You Fill The Void?

The "God" hole. Something we are always trying to fill with everything other than God. For some it's alcohol; some sugar; some accumulation of wealth and material things. But the more we buy or consume, the heavier the weight we carry around on our shoulders. What can a bigger house, fancier car or heftier bank account do besides look good on the outside when the inside is barren? Build your spiritual wealth first. Build the Kingdom of God.

In todays Gospel (Luke 12:13-21), Jesus warns of acquiring too many earthly possessions:

Someone in the crowd said to Jesus, "Teacher, tell my brother to share the inheritance with me." He replied to him, "Friend, who appointed me as your judge and arbitrator?" Then he said to the crowd, "Take care to guard against all greed, for though one may be rich, one's life does not consist of possessions." Then he told them a parable. "There was a rich man whose land produced a bountiful harvest. He asked himself, 'What shall I do, for I do not have space to store my harvest?' And he said, 'This is what I shall do: I shall tear down my barns and build larger ones. There I shall store all my grain and other goods and I shall say to myself, 'Now as for you, you have so many good things stored up for many years, rest, eat, drink, be merry!'" But God said to him, 'You fool, this night your life will be demanded of you; and the things you have prepared, to whom will they belong?' Thus will it be for the one who stores up treasure for himself but is not rich in what matters to God."

In Anne a lay apostle's book Lessons in Love, she lovingly describes why we need to lighten our load:

"In order to truly enter into the heart of Jesus, we must serve Him in the way He needs us to serve. This is another way of saying that we must reduce our commitment to self-will and replace it with commitment to divine will. Often we pay lip service to this but do not really abandon our own plan. Jesus says that the door is narrow. I think that means that we cannot get through it if we are carrying too much of our own stuff. If we are laden down, we are bulky and we simply cannot squeeze through. What makes us bulky? I believe that things like attachment to the opinions of others, addictions, materialism, pride, greed, anger, holding on to hurts ... carrying things like these add weight and girth to us. I believe that we all spend time standing outside the door knowing that we are called to enter but remaining unwilling to let go of some things. Many of us, I think, are squeezing through a little at a time, making wonderful progress by gradually letting go of the things that prevent complete entry into the Lord’s Sacred Heart. A pertinent part of that passage is the Lord’s encouraging us to make every effort."

Lay apostles, take a look at your life. What extra baggage are you carrying around on a daily basis? Anger? Greed? An oppressive relationship? How can you lighten your load today? If you start with baby steps, eventually you find yourself in a fast sprint to Jesus. And, He is waiting for your arrival in His loving arms!

Thank you, Lord, for helping me to fill my void with only You, letting go of things which were breaking my back. Please help those in difficult situations see Your Light and run toward it.

God bless,
Bonnie

The Power of Temptation

Temptation.  Such an ugly word. None of us are immune to evil's seduction.  Temptation may present itself when we are at our weakest.  And our weakest can be when our lives are right on track.  We become complacent thinking we have it all under control.  Before long, temptation creeps in, upsetting our version of normal.  The grass begins to look a little greener on the other side. Whether it be in our careers, marriages, or families, temptation can create a desire so strong it can lure us away from what is right.  The fight between good and evil has been around since Adam and Eve.  Eve knew it was against God's direction to pick the apple from the tree.  Yet, evil convinced her otherwise. We are no different than Adam and Eve.  But, due to modern technology, temptations have become more accessible in the privacy of our own home.  Good 'ol free will.


With free will comes choices.  There is a great line in the movie Little Black Book, "Omission is betrayal."  If you feel like you have to lie or hide something, think twice about it before you make a mistake with irrevocable consequences.  Society is so fixated on making ourselves "feel" better despite outcomes.  Addictions, affairs (emotional and physical) and other poor choices we make only satisfy our perceived needs temporarily.  Our "truth" is whatever makes us feel better.  Fellow lay apostles, we must always follow God's Truth, not our own.

Todays Gospel (Luke 11:15-26) reinforces the need to combat temptation with Jesus in mind . . . always:

When Jesus had driven out a demon, some of the crowd said: “By the power of Beelzebul, the prince of demons, he drives out demons.” Others, to test him, asked him for a sign from heaven. But he knew their thoughts and said to them, “Every kingdom divided against itself will be laid waste and house will fall against house. And if Satan is divided against himself, how will his kingdom stand? For you say that it is by Beelzebul that I drive out demons. If I, then, drive out demons by Beelzebul, by whom do your own people drive them out? Therefore they will be your judges. But if it is by the finger of God that I drive out demons, then the Kingdom of God has come upon you.
When a strong man fully armed guards his palace, his possessions are safe. But when one stronger than he attacks and overcomes him, he takes away the armor on which he relied and distributes the spoils. Whoever is not with me is against me, and whoever does not gather with me scatters.

“When an unclean spirit goes out of someone, it roams through arid regions searching for rest but, finding none, it says, ‘I shall return to my home from which I came.’ But upon returning, it finds it swept clean and put in order. Then it goes and brings back seven other spirits more wicked than itself who move in and dwell there, and the last condition of that man is worse than the first.”

In Anne a lay apostle's book The Mist of Mercy, she beautifully illustrates where temptation comes from:

"But many of God’s children have wandered further and further away from truth and the enemy is making fools of them. We must accept that God’s enemy wants only our destruction. The enemy of God has an agenda for us that includes unhappiness and eternal despair. The enemy sends temptation. When a person falls prey to a temptation and commits a sin or even merely an action that pulls the soul from goodness, the enemy exults. The enemy mocks humanity and works tirelessly to sow seeds of restlessness and anger, frustration and bitterness. All people should understand that just as God loves, the devil hates."

Today, let's choose God's truth. If you are in the middle of something you know could be detrimental to a loved one, stop. Stop and do the right thing. It's not always easy, but when you choose good over evil, He will provide the graces needed to get you through.

Thank you, Lord, for helping me to choose Your Truth. Evil can hit me with its best shot, because I have no fear with You in my corner!

God bless,

Bonnie

Thank You Lord For Guardian Angels!

Angels. Beautiful celestial beings God has supplied to protect us. Today we celebrate the Memorial of the Guardian Angels. This beautiful prayer comes to mind:

"Angel of God, my guardian dear, to whom God's love commits me here, ever this day (or night), be at my side, to light and guard, to rule and guide. Amen."

Sometimes I forget my Guardian Angel is around. I'm taking the longer periods of "quiet" as an indicator I am making some good choices lately. Believe me, there are times I believe all of heaven fires a million warning shots only to have me ignore my conscience and make choices based on what makes me feel better . . . not what is best for my soul. My dear angel has worked overtime in the last 40 years, and saved my life a few times in the process.

When I was a freshman at Western State College in Gunnison, Colorado, I was driving over Monarch Pass home to Denver for spring break. Three other people were on board. As I came to a two-laned hairpin curve, I slowed down, and with one hand held the wheel while the other hand ejected the cassette tape (no cracks about age here!) to change the music. At that instant, the passenger in the front seat grabbed the wheel (we were about to go off a very steep cliff) and I slammed on the brakes. The combination sent my car rolling.

This may be the exact spot I rolled! If not, you get the idea!

As you can see in the pic, it was either go off the cliff or slam into the mountain. Only by the grace of God, there was a place to pull off the side of the road to sightsee where my car landed. I ended up with a broken nose, but thank the Lord everyone else was ok. I can imagine my Guardian Angel petitioning very quickly to move a mountain . . .

Todays Gospel (Matthew 18:1-5, 10) creates awareness of how much God loves us. So much so he assigns each an angel:

The disciples approached Jesus and said, "Who is the greatest in the Kingdom of heaven?" He called a child over, placed it in their midst, and said, "Amen, I say to you, unless you turn and become like children, you will not enter the Kingdom of heaven. Whoever humbles himself like this child is the greatest in the Kingdom of heaven. And whoever receives one child such as this in my name receives me. "See that you do not despise one of these little ones, for I say to you that their angels in heaven always look upon the face of my heavenly Father."

The following quote profoundly affected my oldest daughter and me when we read the following message from Jesus in Volume Nine:

"The angels surround you, My dear ones. They minister to you in so many ways that I could not clearly explain this to you. I am going to give you some idea of these heavenly friends, however, so that you will understand the strength on your side. When you attend Mass you are praying and worshipping with thousands of angels. Your guardian angel goes with you, of course, and is so grateful for the opportunity to rest in the heavenly companionship of his fellow angels. These beings of light pay rapt attention and take such joy in praising Me. Truly, each church is filled with angels. When you enter a church and find it empty, that means that you can see no other human. But there are angels present and they welcome you as they welcome your angel guardian. This loyal servant of Mine, your special guardian, prays for you without interruption. When you are safely on the path to heaven, this angel then begins to petition heaven for greater and greater spiritual gifts. Your angel can communicate with the saints in heaven and often seeks out their intercession for you. When you are working with your angel and with the saints, you will find yourself making sublime spiritual progress because the gifts being secured are of the deepest and sometimes most indiscernible variety. You are often making progress that you do not feel, little soul, but your angel is watching it closely. When something threatens your spiritual progress, your angel attempts to warn you. He does this in many ways. You often hear whisperings, what many call your conscience. This is your angel attempting to persuade you that whatever you are considering will be bad for your cause. Your angel can anticipate danger so you should always ask him to be alert and assist you."

Lay apostles, after I read the above quote years ago, every time I brought someone to Mass who really didn't believe or want to be there, I knew I was giving their Guardian Angel time for heavenly companionship. Can you imagine the scene if we were allowed a glimpse? The next time you are dragging your teenager, a friend, or a lost relative to Mass, think about his/her angel's thankfulness for the effort. Ignore the annoyance and know his/her angel is petitioning heaven for the soul they are assigned.

Thank you, Lord, for my dear Guardian Angel. I am working on listening to the warnings instead of debating them!

God bless,
Bonnie

Anne Speaks on Guardian Angels

Today is the feast of the Guardian Angels. How do they help us? In Volume Nine the Blessed Mother speaks about Angels assisting us with our thoughts. Watch the video for Anne's comments on this and read the text below. Enjoy! 

 ....Angels from heaven, direct my path


Play the video to listen to Anne speaking about Angels assisting us with our thoughts.

Click here to order

1 Case = 60 Volume Nine's at 60% off!

You or your prayer group can order these bulk quantities of Volume Nine at a huge discount in order to easily distribute these Volumes to others. This is a way to get the messages out to people at low cost. We are trying to reach out to as many people as we can.

Truly, most people do not pay for their first Volume. They are given it as a gift. This Volume Nine bulk activity will allow prayer groups and other lay apostles to have access to the Volumes and give them away at little or no cost to themselves. A person receiving a Volume is then invited to become a part of the mission.

 For more information click HERE

Blessed Mother

September 8th 2004 

My children, how often I have looked upon you, surrounded by God’s angels but feeling so alone. These angels have soft little hearts and they grieve with you when you are sad. So often they seek to comfort you with heavenly thoughts but you do not accept these ideas. Allow these beautiful thoughts into your hearts and you will feel the consolation with which the angels seek to bless you. Again I say, and I understand that I am repeating myself, you must spend time in silence so that we can place these lovely thoughts in your hearts. You understand that communicating with heaven is not like communicating with earth. We do not shout, usually, and you must listen with your soul. In days past, there was not this constant noise. Children, think about why the enemy never leaves you in peace. It is like a child’s attempt to distract someone so that bad news cannot be communicated about him. When you feel distracted, and feel your peace is slipping from you, ask yourself how much time during that particular day you spent in silence, contemplating God. I am certain that it was not enough. So find silence. Seek it out. Value it. Understand that this is not wasted time, but the most important time of your day. 

 

For European orders contact the Irish office: contactus@dfot.ie or +353 (0)49 4373040 

Have you been blessed through the Volumes? Please help others receive these words by donating a dollar a day. Your donation makes a big difference. 

 

Direction for Our Times (DFOT) is a 501(C)(3) non-profit organization dedicated to spreading God's messages as revealed in the Volumes.

Total Abandonment!

You have to be willing to give it all up, including your own life. Following Christ means total abandonment from worldly possessions . . . disconnecting from earthly pleasures and comfort. I'm not suggesting giving up your home, car, or job. Nor am I suggesting martyrdom. Free yourself from attachment to "things," even from people. Sometimes life doesn't go the way you anticipated. Couples get divorced. Parents die. Children move away. Jobs are lost. Houses go into foreclosure. When we put too much emphasis on the importance of these circumstances . . . things, life can erupt and throw you into a tailspin. But if we are focused on Jesus, we begin to understand things happen in life. And, we learn to trust He is in control. This, in turn, creates calm and peace within. Follow Him. Do His Will. Then let Him take care of everything else.

Todays Gospel (Luke 9:57-62) shows how important it is to let go and follow Christ:

As Jesus and his disciples were proceeding on their journey, someone said to him, "I will follow you wherever you go." Jesus answered him, "Foxes have dens and birds of the sky have nests, but the Son of Man has nowhere to rest his head." And to another he said, "Follow me." But he replied, "Lord, let me go first and bury my father." But he answered him, "Let the dead bury their dead. But you, go and proclaim the Kingdom of God." And another said, "I will follow you, Lord, but first let me say farewell to my family at home." Jesus answered him, "No one who sets a hand to the plow and looks to what was left behind is fit for the Kingdom of God."

In Heaven Speaks to Young Adults, Jesus explains the simplicity of following Him:

"Dear soul, it is only through unity with Me that you will have true peace. The world offers you darkness of spirit. Look closely at those who follow the world. Do they have peace? Are they loved? Do they sit calmly with others and allow others to speak, understanding that each soul is precious? You will find, I am sure, that those following the world are cynical. This suits them because if they are cynical they can justify their selfishness. Reject this. Reject cynicism. There are many Christians in your world and these followers of Mine are not cynical. They are warm and loving and kind. And this is what I want for you. So I love you and you love others. It is very simple."

Lay apostles, what keeps you focused on the world and not heaven? Money? Ego? A failed marriage? What can you do today, despite the hectic pace of the world, to detach from earthly comforts? I am trying to listen more, love more, and most importantly, keep my eyes on Jesus and His Will.

Thank you, Lord, for all the blessings my slow detachment from "things" has brought. I know I still struggle, but it is becoming easier by the day.

God bless,
Bonnie

Describing Jesus

It's very easy to quote Scripture, to be "book smart" when describing Jesus. It's easy to talk about His work and life on earth with love and adoration. It's easy to describe His kind nature, His healing touch. We can quote Canon Law, we can quote the Catechism of the Catholic Church. But if you don't practice what you preach, it falls on deaf ears. In todays Gospel (Luke 9:18-22), Jesus is teaching the apostles that namedropping is not allowed:

Once when Jesus was praying in solitude, and the disciples were with him, he asked them, "Who do the crowds say that I am?" They said in reply, "John the Baptist; others, Elijah; still others, 'One of the ancient prophets has arisen.'" Then he said to them, "But who do you say that I am?" Peter said in reply, "The Christ of God." He rebuked them and directed them not to tell this to anyone.

He said, "The Son of Man must suffer greatly and be rejected by the elders, the chief priests, and the scribes, and be killed and on the third day be raised."

Jesus wants us to exude Him in how we think, speak and act. Don't judge the level of faith or poor choices of another. As the old saying goes, walk a mile in my shoes . . .

In Anne a lay apostle's book Serving in Clarity, she brilliantly describes Jesus, and, lives her life as Jesus would want of all His servants:

"It is distressing to witness a spirit of pride and arrogance. We must always look for personal outrage as a marker for pride in ourselves. By this I do not refer to the outrage one feels regarding injustice done to others. This is appropriate. By this, the marker for pride, I refer to personal outrage associated with being treated less respectfully than we would like or being judged in a way that is less positive than we feel we deserve or desire. To clarify, we can go, as usual, to the Lord’s example. When people lied about Jesus personally or mistreated Him, He let it go, as in the Garden. He did not puff up and sputter in outrage. He was very consistent in behaving like a lamb. But when people planned to stone an adulteress, He stopped them. He exhibited a sense of outrage, turning the situation on its head and using it to promote non-judgmental treatment of others. Also, when He witnessed His Father’s house being used as a market place, He exhibited outrage, even reacting with just anger. Jesus quietly accepted personal insults and slights to Himself. He did not accept cruel behavior against people or blasphemous behavior against His Father."

Lay apostles, read, read, read. Then, practice, practice, practice. What can you do today to witness your love of Christ? Not judge another's mistakes? Defend the unborn? There are so many ways to describe Jesus in our actions. Start practicing today.

Thank you, Lord, for teaching me in addition to describing You, I must exude You, too.

God bless,
Bonnie

Don't Be Confused

Love and respect. Kindness and compassion. Faith, hope and charity. Words every person, let alone every Christian, should exude. I think some people are becoming confused, or maybe it's just plain ol' fear of not fitting in when standing up for Christ. Could it be some of our youth (or millennials as they are now called!) in this country didn't have role models practicing Christian values? What kind of examples were set or are being set for our children and grandchildren? Who is to blame for this lack of faith blatantly blasted at us on all the liberal news stations? The answer is, we only have ourselves to blame. Yes, we are influenced by our childhood. Yes, our parents unknowingly (and in some cases knowingly) contributed to how we think and assess situations, ourselves and others. But once we become adults, there are no more excuses. We can make the necessary changes needed in our lives by the choices we make every day. Let's begin today by showing no fear when protecting Our Lord's sacred name. As a matter of fact, we must stop being silent when our sweet Jesus is slandered or mocked. He is a God of mercy . . . clear up any confusion or fear within first. Pick up a Volume and get to know Him. Open the Bible to learn about His short life on this earth. Love Him as He loves us.

Todays Gospel (Luke 9:7-9) shows Herod very confused about who Jesus is . . .

Herod the tetrarch heard about all that was happening, and he was greatly perplexed because some were saying, "John has been raised from the dead"; others were saying, "Elijah has appeared"; still others, "One of the ancient prophets has arisen." But Herod said, "John I beheaded. Who then is this about whom I hear such things?" And he kept trying to see him.

In Volume Three, Our Lady teaches us to seek the good, not be confused, and trust in her Son:

"My dear souls, dedicated to Jesus, I wish to teach you more about goodness. Goodness comes from God. All goodness is rooted in heaven and blooms on earth. Your world is filled with a false goodness, that is really malice, disguised. Your world speaks of choice and lauds the choice of the individual. Well, this is fine, if a soul is choosing God. But to choose against the natural order, set down by God, is to bring the wrath of God down upon the world. These people are not working for goodness and their motives are not good. Do not feel compelled to pay homage to the modern concept of good any longer. Instead, ask the Holy Spirit to help you identify true goodness, the kind that is rooted in heaven, and the Spirit will direct you to examples. This same spirit of truth, will uncover the dark motives and malice of those who talk about good and work for bad. Now, do not be confused or concerned. When you see these individuals spouting their lies, you have felt confusion and suspicion. It is that suspicion I wish to direct your attention to. Pay attention to those feelings and trust a little bit more in your holy instincts. Look at the fruits of various campaigns. Does a certain approach bear good fruit? And by that I mean does it bring souls into a unity with each other and with the Creator? You are not secular, dear ones. Please do not try to be."

Lay apostles, don't let lies and venomous words confuse, causing doubt in God. Rely on your holy instincts as Our Lady states above. Don't react, pray for the offenders. And just remember, What Would Jesus Do?

Thank you, Lord, for patience and compassion for those spouting evil and hate. Please continue to provide me with Your shield of hope and forgiveness.

God bless,
Bonnie

Shake the Dust From Your Feet

My mother used to always say, "if you can't say anything nice, don't say anything at all!" Easier said than done, right? Well, with a little practice (ok, A LOT of practice!), it truly becomes easier to not say anything unless what comes out of our mouth is the Truth. If we practice speaking the Truth, there will always be naysayers. There will always be those who don't want to change . . . who don't want to give up "things" or behaviors to follow Christ. It's the path less traveled. When we interact with those not desiring to improve and grow, we must pray for them, and demonstrate the joy we achieve in following Him. I choose to keep learning and growing in every aspect of my life. How about you?

In todays Gospel (Luke 9:1-6), Jesus instructs us to "shake the dust from your feet" when others are not ready or willing to live a life following Him:

Jesus summoned the Twelve and gave them power and authority over all demons and to cure diseases, and he sent them to proclaim the Kingdom of God and to heal the sick. He said to them, “Take nothing for the journey, neither walking stick, nor sack, nor food, nor money, and let no one take a second tunic. Whatever house you enter, stay there and leave from there. And as for those who do not welcome you, when you leave that town, shake the dust from your feet in testimony against them.” Then they set out and went from village to village proclaiming the Good News and curing diseases everywhere.

In Volume One, Jesus asks us to be a shining example of His Love to others:

"You, My chosen souls, must provide that guidance and direction. That is why you will be placed in contact with many souls. Speak My name freely and lovingly. Speak My name naturally in your conversation. Speak My name often, and do not use it to curse others. If these souls, who are directionless because of the failure of many of My children to provide that direction, hear My name spoken lovingly and respectfully, their hearts will jump up, like John the Baptist’s heart jumped in his mother’s womb. They will know that it is their Savior who is being spoken of so lovingly. And they will be watching you, dear soul, to see what you do, how you act, speak, and treat others. These souls, given a small bit of direction, will follow you. They will not need years of calling, as I have called to many of you for years. They seek only the correct direction and they will walk toward Me without falter. Can you imagine, My dear ones, how I grieve that so many of them are not living the life of the Christian? And can you imagine how many souls, destined to be called then by them, have been left in the world? Do you see, little ones, how every soul
is so critical to My kingdom? We do not want our brothers and sisters abandoned, for the want of your duty being fulfilled. How blessed are you that you have been called, indeed, and given these messages. Little child, you are a Christian because someone fulfilled their duty. Now you must fulfill your duty and call out to others in love and solicitude. Leave nothing undone that could bring a soul to Me. Let those of the world scoff at you, if they dare. The inhabitants of heaven commend you. If you hear My name spoken in ridicule or anger, turn away, praying to Me for the forgiveness of that person. Then, instead of your God being unwelcome and ridiculed in that situation, He will
be honored. That, My child, is, in summary, what I am calling you to do. Be joyful. Be glad. You are My chosen one and My favor and Spirit rests upon you."

Lay apostles, it is so important to remember we can only affect others by living the life we preach. There are so many in darkness . . . and we must shine His Light always. But we must also stay in motion and not get stuck when one person is not quite ready to climb up that mountain with us. Know Jesus will use every ounce of our hard work to change a life . . . in His time, not ours!

Thank you, Lord, for giving me the grace to truly shake the dust from my feet when I feel ineffective in leading others toward You.

God bless,
Bonnie

It's Time For Action

There are times in our life when we feel beaten down . . . whether we feel we are not good enough, smart enough, faithful enough, or you-fill-in-the-blank enough. Despite how others treat us, we only have to please one Person . . . Christ. We are always good enough for Him. Think about it this way . . . who are the people consistently loving and supporting you? There is usually nothing you wouldn't do for them in return, right? Fight for them, love them, comfort them. So why do we treat Our Heavenly Father with sporadic trust? As Christians, we must walk the walk. And, not just occasionally. It's time for action my dear fellow lay apostles. It's time to give Him our complete attention and trust, just as we do for those we love on earth.

In todays Gospel (Luke 8:19-21), Jesus makes a very clear point: it's easy to talk the talk, but you also have to walk the walk: 

The mother of Jesus and his brothers came to him but were unable to join him because of the crowd. He was told, “Your mother and your brothers are standing outside and they wish to see you.” He said to them in reply, “My mother and my brothers  are those who hear the word of God and act on it.”

In Volume One, our Blessed Mother advises her children on earth to take action:

"Remember to pray, children. In this way, every action throughout your day can be sanctified. Think of all the small tasks you complete, barely giving any thought to them. If you offer them to us with love, we can use even the smallest action for the salvation of sinners. It is time now to pay attention. Do not put our words down and forget them. I want you to act in obedience to our words and let them change your life. It will feel like the most natural thing in the world, this transition to holiness. Once you make the decision, begin to pray. Once you begin to pray, obedience will come naturally. After obedience, we can move you swiftly to great levels of holiness. My dear one, you will then see the coming of God’s kingdom." 

Lay apostles, young or old, it is never too late to be a part of God's Renewal. Strive to do His Will and continue on the path to salvation. You can change your life.  I did.  Accept the fact you are worthy of His Love and make peace with your past. Once you do, you will be amazed at all the beauty despite the thorns.

Thank you, Lord, for quick recoveries and a joyful spirit.  Your spiritual bulletproof armor is working perfectly.

God bless,
Bonnie

Mercy Over Sacrifice

Let's start with two definitions (from Dictionary.com):

1. Mercy - compassionate or kindly forbearance shown toward an offender, an enemy, or other person in one's power; compassion, pity, or benevolence

2. Sacrifice - the surrender or destruction of something prized or desirable for the sake of something considered as having a higher or more pressing claim

Now, let's read todays Gospel (Matthew 9:9-13): 

As Jesus passed by, he saw a man named Matthew sitting at the customs post. He said to him, "Follow me." And he got up and followed him. While he was at table in his house, many tax collectors and sinners came and sat with Jesus and his disciples. The Pharisees saw this and said to his disciples, "Why does your teacher eat with tax collectors and sinners?" He heard this and said, "Those who are well do not need a physician, but the sick do. Go and learn the meaning of the words, I desire mercy, not sacrifice. I did not come to call the righteous but sinners."

After reading this, I decided to do as Jesus asks . . . "Go and learn the meaning of the words . . ." By definition, I completely understand what Jesus means. Mercy is forgiving and sacrifice is suffering. Which is the more difficult challenge? Hands down, forgiving offenders. I would gladly suffer for Christ, my children, grandchildren and all those I love. I would stand in front of a bullet for them . . . die for them. There is no suffering so great it could deter me from protecting what is most important in my life. But the whole mercy thing . . . why is it so hard to forgive our offenders? And, how do we forgive those who continually want to disrupt our lives? Mercy. Jesus desires this of us. By using the word "desires" in Scripture today, Jesus is basically declaring He knows we aren't perfect and we won't always get it right. However, if we are doing our best to be merciful, He will be pleased. So, many times I refrain from rebuttal emails which could only cause more unrest or just plain keep my opinion to myself . . . and pray for the person disrupting the peace I work so hard to maintain!  

What brings me peace . . . my husband, our children and grandchildren! 

In Heaven Speaks to Those Who Struggle to Forgive, Jesus shows us by having mercy for others, we obtain mercy for ourselves:

"Bitterness characterizes My enemy. Forgiveness characterizes Me. You, a beloved little child of God, seek to find peace in your heart. You will only find peace if you step into the stream of goodness. This stream is like a river of grace with which I desire to bathe you, removing all pain and injury. What will remain in your soul is joy. This joy, this heavenly peace, will be obtained by accepting your flaws and accepting the flaws of others. You see, My friend, if you accept the flaws and sins of others, you will soften in attitude toward yourself. I love you. I accept you. I need you to accept yourself so that you will be at peace in My Kingdom and it is through forgiving others that you will find acceptance of your own humanity."

Lay apostles, did you offend someone today? Apologize. Were you offended? Have mercy. Did you make a poor choice you regret? Accept it and forgive yourself. Do as Jesus desires . . .

Thank you, Lord, for giving me words of wisdom, showing me the value of mercy is priceless. Please continue to redirect my thoughts when I want so badly to debate!

God bless,
Bonnie

It's Hard To Stay Delightful

Guest Blogger: Annie!

As a teenager I always used to pride myself on being extremely good at not judging people. It was my favourite Catholic teaching, one I felt that the Church could do with advertising a little better– you know, let’s talk less about hellfire and damnation and start hyping up the peace-and-love part of the Catechism. I was well versed in not judging people for bad attitudes, past mistakes or poor life decisions; none of it fazed me. God loved them and me and everyone and we were all sinners and all saints and all together, lalalala, hi I’m basically a hippie.

Enter college. I wasn’t exactly prepared for some certain social challenges of a small, Catholic, American university. (If you went to a small Catholic American university, you may see where this is going.) There was a small group of people that seemed to take an instant dislike to me, for reasons that evaded my understanding, because as my mom tells me, I’m delightful. But it’s hard to stay delightful when people are looking you up and down and you can FEEL them judging your clothes, your appearance, your language, everything about you, before they even open their mouths to assure you with false kindness that that is exactly what they are doing. I just could not be Catholic, or pure, or good enough for these people. The unfairness of it drove me insane and I retaliated to the hate vibes by labeling them with my friends as hypocrites and meanies and something that rhymes which clucking glass bowls (I shall preserve the integrity of Bonnie’s blog by not even rhyming some of the other words I may have used!) It took me a while to realize what had happened, and when I finally did I actually burst out laughing at myself; I had become what I loathed by being just as judgmental as they were. The Gospel today (Luke 6:39-42) talks about the importance of focusing on fixing our own flaws and not micro-analyzing everything our neighbours are doing wrong:

Jesus told his disciples a parable: “Can a blind person guide a blind person? Will not both fall into a pit? No disciple is superior to the teacher; but when fully trained, every disciple will be like his teacher. Why do you notice the splinter in your brother’s eye, but do not perceive the wooden beam in your own? How can you say to your brother, ‘Brother, let me remove that splinter in your eye,’ when you do not even notice the wooden beam in your own eye? You hypocrite! Remove the wooden beam from your eye first; then you will see clearly to remove the splinter in your brother’s eye.”

The thing is, if your brother was walking around with literally a giant wooden beam in his eye, how hard would it be not to notice??? I mean, come on, that’s probably the first thing you’d see! It’s probably unpleasant and very distracting to look at. Likewise with other people’s shortcomings, they can be, frankly, really annoying, and it’s hard not to judge on that level. But nobody likes to be on the receiving end of “that person” and we have to be careful about not allowing such an experience to make us become “that person.” The good news is we don’t have to be blind; we can be fully trained, loving disciples instead of the word that rhymes with glass bowls. 

The Monthly Message from May 2009 is really consoling and instructive in this area:

"My children, your work stretches out before you. How many serve? How many resist My will for them? When you consider others who do not seem to be serving Me, I want you to turn your face away. I want you to consider only My will for you in a given moment. This will protect you from many temptations. You can answer Me with simplicity when I ask you at the end of the day, 'Have you served Me well today?' You can simply say, 'Yes, Lord. I have done My best.' Then you can lay down your worries and rest. Beloved apostles of God, do not be distracted by others. I know this is hard for you. I know that others can cause you upset. But if you consider how I have asked you to experience others, you will do better. I want you to view those around you as pilgrims journeying toward Me. That is what you are, after all. Can you deny others the need to move gradually to perfection when you, yourself are doing the same? You are involved in a process which means that you remain imperfect. Why would it be different for those around you? You have come to trust My loving compassion, My forgiveness and My uninterrupted affection. That is because you have come to know Me. If others do not know Me as well as you do, they will trust Me less. If they trust Me less, they will experience fear and this will cause them difficulty which moves out from the fear to greater and greater pain. If My apostles will accept that fear of being unloved is the source of great pain for others, My apostles will view the mistakes of others with compassion, as I do. Yes, the pain of humanity can only be remedied by loving compassion. This is why you are sent out by Me. You move into the world with heaven’s healing compassion. My apostles, perhaps you do not feel this compassion from others. Perhaps you feel that you are in need of compassion and find only condemnation. I make two remarks about this. One, please be willing to ask for understanding from other holy apostles and then accept what they offer to you in humility. Next, ask Me if I am judging you. Ask Me if I view you harshly. You know that I do not. I am pleased with whatever you offer Me in terms of fidelity and service. I am pleased with whatever you give to Me in terms of prayer and silence. I work so well in your little soul when you allow Me. I feel the greatest compassion for you. I am happy with your efforts to be holy and to love those around you. I rejoice in you. I rejoice in your commitment to Me. I urge you today in the most serious way to trust Me and trust in My plan for you."

What a great way to look at other people. Jesus basically says it perfectly here, and I think this advice is pretty solid, and something I definitely want to work on. Basically, haters gonna secretly crave affection, and if someone is judging you? The best response is love and kindness.

God bless,

Annie