The Test of Faith

First, I want to wish all a very Merry Christmas.  This past week has been exhausting, to say the least.  I'm not referring to last minute shopping, which was the distraction I needed at the time.  In taking a stand for my faith and love of our Lord on a delicate issue within my family, an avalanche of wounding words and attacks on my Christianity materialized.  My heart was wounded.  In a way it had never been before.  After apologizing for causing waves via email, the attacks continued, one hurtful email after another.  My daughters were amazing and supportive, outraged at the slurs thrown at their mother.  As I carefully constructed an email defending myself and my faith, I felt the Lord prompt me to walk away from the computer before I hit the send button.  I found myself walking into the garage and pondering what the defensive email could evoke in those attacking.  After a few minutes, I went back and deleted the email.  In my second attempt at responding, the Lord placed graces in my heart to show His love and compassion.  

I have to give credit where credit is due.  The Volumes, Climbing the Mountain, Mist of Mercy and Serving in Clarity have changed my heart.  For those who know me, my family is my lifeline.  I would never have imagined such a huge rift would occur when taking a stand for decency.  But, the evil one knows where your vulnerabilities are, and will pounce when he sees the opportunity.  All I can say is, if this is all he has, bring it on!  The love and support of my daughters, husband, younger sister and fellow lay apostles through this difficult time has shown me what is most important in life.  The road of a Christian is a bumpy one.  And those that truly love you with the same goal of climbing the mountain to our beautiful Jesus' arms make the bumpy road a little less jolting.

Thank you Lord, for allowing others to refuel me with Your Love when I am down and in need of encouragement.  

Blessings,

Bonnie S.

Off to Ireland for the new year

Good morning, fellow (and future) lay apostles!  

I heard someone say the start of your new year sets the course for the year to come.  Well, I am going to have one amazing 2009!  My husband and I will be traveling to Ireland December 29th to visit Holy Trinity Abbey and attend the Lay Apostle prayer group at St. Anne's January 1st in Bailieborough.  To hear the monthly message from Jesus as given to Anne, a lay apostle will be the highlight of my trip.  I anticipate the first of every month, as do all lay apostles.  To hear the message firsthand, before the rest of the world, feels like a privilege.  January 2nd I will be meeting with Anne and Fr. Darragh (Anne's spiritual director) at the DFOT mission office to discuss the testimony book and determine a timeline.  I know Jesus has a plan for me, and I couldn't be more thankful He chose this apostolate as my destiny.  

Thank you, Lord, for the overflowing graces and Your loving guidance as I embark on the most important work of my life.

Blessings, 

Bonnie S.

A Time For Thanksgiving

I have been an "empty nester" for almost 2 years now.  I am adjusting to the quiet life and actually enjoy it at times.  This Thanksgiving two of my daughters are not able to come home to celebrate with us.  So, this year, it's just three of us.  Last night my youngest daughter arrived as she and her sisters normally do, honking the horn relentlessly until I come running out the door to greet them.  She jumped out of her car and headed right for my outstretched arms.  Oh, what a feeling!

We entertained ourselves most of the evening creating goofy pictures of the two of us on Mac Photo Booth.  I don't think I have laughed that hard for a long time.  I went to bed last night asking the Lord how I was worthy enough to be so blessed.  My youngest was so full of joy and light it was infectious.  She gave me the laughter I missed so much and I gave her the warmth and comfort of her mother's arms.  I have so much to be thankful for.  

Thank you, Lord, for the joy, laughter and love of my daughters.  May Your light shine within each of them forever.

Blessings, 

Bonnie S.

Change

When the monthly message for November 1 arrived, my stomach tensed a bit.  I reread it again.  Then, my phone rang.  "Mom," said my oldest daughter in a panicked voice.  "Did you read the monthly message from Jesus?  Does this mean Obama will be elected?"  My gut instinct as I read it for the first time duplicated my daughter's.  She is employed full time and a grad student at The Institute of World Politics in Washington, D.C.  And, I might add, a very conservative Republican.  I tried to console her, explaining it could mean any kind of change, not specifically Obama's potential presidency.  My words pacified her for the time being.  

Election night proved more challenging.  Nothing I said eased her disappointment or mine.  The next morning I located the monthly message and began to read it to her as she inched her way in D.C. traffic.  I repeated this part several times to etch it in her brain, and mine:  

In seeking the good of all of God's children, I must allow changes to come which will 

impact all of God's children.  I do this to bring about the goodness and peace I refer to but the change will be gradual in terms of the benefits to come.  Trust Me in every-

thing.

I must admit the words that once caused panic now comfort me.  Jesus continues to tell us the same thing over and over, TRUST ME!  Now, more than ever, is the time to heed His advice.

Thank you, Lord, for continually reminding me to trust You.  Bless me with the graces to pass Your peace on to others.

Blessings,

Bonnie S.

 

Tolerance

Where do we draw the line when others treat us with disrespect?  

Tacked to the corkboard I stare at every day while writing is a small pamphlet I received in the mail from the Oblates of St. Frances de Sales.  There is a section called "The Little Virtues."

There are "little virtues" to practice every day of the week.  Here they are:

God, throughout this week, grant me the grace to become more Christlike.  Each day, a step at a time, help me to become a saint through the practice of

The Little Virtues

Sunday:  A cheerful bearing with our own imperfections and limitations.

Monday:  Patient endurance of the small acts of selfishness and injustice of others.

Tuesday:  A gentle voice and a calm manner.

Wednesday:  An agreeable manner of answering those who speak disagreeably to us.

Thursday:  A cheerful tolerance of the tiresome tempers of our neighbors.

Friday:  A pleasant manner of accepting a refusal.

Saturday:  Showing appreciation even if we dislike being indebted.

These aren't easy to execute on a daily basis.  It takes practice.  I do see small changes in my behavior from daily reading of the virtues.  But the question still remains, after tolerating disrespect, what is the next step to heal our wounded heart?

The younger me would blow up on the spot and point out the impolite behavior.  But the older me tries to see the bigger picture.  I can't remember how many times I explained to my daughters growing up that when others say mean things or treat you badly, maybe someone treated them worse earlier and that hurt is being taken out on you.  Looking at the bigger picture helps the immediate pain, but sometimes it continues to linger until a resolution is achieved.

As hard as it can be, I am trying to kindly approach those that offend me in word or action.  No matter the outcome, I find peace in having done my part to get closure.  

Thank you, Lord, for St. Frances de Sales and his "little virtues."  

Blessings,

Bonnie

Back to the land of the living

As I slowly crawl my way back to reality, it is hard to believe my daughter's wedding quickly came and went faster than the blink of an eye.  She is now a happily married woman on her honeymoon with the man of her dreams.  Love at its best.  She was the most beautiful bride I have ever seen (of course, I'm not prejudiced!) and helping her adorn her wedding gown and veil in the small room provided at the church was overwhelming.  I stepped back and for an instant I saw my little curly headed blonde looking to me for comfort from a bad dream.  Now, 25 years later, she looks at me searching for that same comfort.  The tears in my eyes and smile on my face assure her everything will be ok.  

I knew all along that my son-in-law was heaven sent.  He adores my daughter and I have never doubted that.  But to see his face when she appeared to walk down the aisle, sheer love and joy (and a huge grin) took over his whole being.  What more could a mother ask for?

Thank you, Lord, for allowing me the privilege of raising three daughters who love You and for the men You have sent to love them.

Blessings,

Bonnie S.

Living our Faith

There is a church in Lafayette, Colorado called Immaculate Conception we attend when my husband and I visit monthly.  For years the church operated out of a small building close to downtown (Lafayette is a VERY small town, one main street running through the center).  A new church has been erected about a mile away from the old building.  I enjoyed the services and Father Amundsen in the small church, but never really felt a connection to this parish.  The first time I attended mass in the new facility, I was immediately drawn to the passion and power the Lord had infused in my absence.  The sanctuary is beautiful and full of life.  But, most importantly, the people seem different.  Happier.  Maybe it's just me, but the Light of the Lord is present in smiles as we greet each other and offer peace. Maybe I wasn't paying attention before.  I didn't think I would ever find a church as wonderful as St. Cecilia's.  Immaculate Conception is my home away from home.  

In the sermon this weekend, the parable of the two sons whose father made a request of each was told.  One son replied "no" to his father and later decided to comply with the request. The other son said "yes" to his father's request and never complied.  Which son was worse?  

In living our faith, we must not only say we are Christians, but act like Christians in everything we do.  We need to say yes to Our Father and follow the path His Son has laid out for us.  We are only human and we will falter at times.  And when we do, the Lord is always there with a loving embrace to put us back on track again.

Thank you, Lord, for leading me back to the path when I tend to stray.

Blessings,

Bonnie S.

Good friends

Driving away with Starbucks in my rearview mirror, I couldn't help wonder how I got so lucky.  

Four of us met for coffee after our Lay Apostle prayer meeting today.  We laughed, discussed serious issues and, I believe, solved all the world problems in just a few hours!  Well, maybe on a local level, for now.  Our discussion was focused on a conflict that had arisen in our group.  First and foremost was navigating a path to resolving the issue as Jesus would want us to...with kindness and love.  If only everyone approached difficult situations with the compassion and insight displayed today...

Allocating time in their busy schedules to meet for coffee, these women have shared a piece of themselves with me over the last nine months and enriched my life more than they will ever know.  The beauty that exudes in abundance from each of them is blinding at times.  I feel privileged to be a part of this group.  

Thank you, Lord, for leading me to a place where my crosses become a little lighter.

Blessings,

Bonnie S.

Trusting in Him

An amazing thing happened to me a few weeks ago.  Now, get ready, I am going to reveal something about myself that not many know about.  After my first marriage ended in divorce, I ducked the issue of annulment for the last ten years.  I justified, in my own mind, that it WAS a valid marriage and didn't want my three daughters to be considered "illegitimate" in the eyes of the church.  I just couldn't do it.  Period.  The thought of not receiving communion for the length of time it takes for the annulment to come through was unbearable.  

But, as my relationship with Jesus becomes stronger, and the more trust I put in Him, the better things work out in the long run.  So, after the nudging of a woman I confided in from my prayer group, I decided it was time.  That Sunday I had to start doing the right thing in the eyes of my Catholic church.  And receiving communion without the annulment didn't feel right.  So, I let the others in my row pass as they made their way to the alter.   This was heartwrenching as communion has always been special to me.  After leaving church, I knew I made the right decision.  

I scheduled time with my priest to talk about a few things.  As he will be officiating at my daughter's wedding, I suppose he thought I wanted to talk about that.  I was so nervous to tell him about my situation, but a good friend calmed me down as I sat in the parking lot of the church.  I walked in Father's office and blurted out everything!  He sat there calmly listening and asked a few questions.  When I answered "no" to all three, he said "you don't need an annulment, you just need to file a 'lack of form' document."  WHAT????  He pulled out his book of Canon laws to make sure, and lo and behold, no annulment needed!  I began crying tears of joy and relief.  I can't tell you how heavy that cross was for ten years.  I think the news was a gift from Jesus that day.  No, I KNOW it was.  He is so good to me.  I must remember and give thanks daily for the strength he has bestowed upon me to make it through each and every challenge I face.  Trusting Him is becoming easier and easier the more I let Him handle things.  Trust comes in when accepting whatever happens as His will.  

Thank you, Lord, for showing me I CAN trust You in everything.  Your will be done.

Blessings,

Bonnie S.

Reflections

If I only knew then what I know now.  How many times have you uttered those words when contemplating your past?  Sometimes when I think of all the mistakes I've made in my lifetime, it makes me shudder.  But then I see my oldest daughter dreamily float out of the dressing room in her wedding gown and I know God has forgiven my past and blessed me with more riches than I could possibly imagine.  The beauty in moments of joy is usually brief due to worry about one thing or another, distracted by the worldly pull.   But as I prepare for my daughter's upcoming wedding, amid the stress of my role as wedding coordinator, God continually reminds me to stay focused on what is important about this event - the Sacrament of Marriage.

Please, Lord, help me to see Your beauty in everything, despite challenges along the way.

God bless,
Bonnie

  

Time passes quickly

Life has been a whirlwind for me lately and blogging was, unfortunately, on the back burner.  The last few weeks have given light to the evangelization of the DFOT mission.  The need for prayer can show up in the strangest places and when you least expect it.  One of my prayer group members, Veronique, and I met at the Blackhawk Coffee shop in Bell Tower so I could fill her in on what was discussed the prior day at a group meeting.  We were engrossed in conversation and Veronique, in her beautiful French accent, asked if I would be comfortable praying in public. "Absolutely," I told her and she quickly grabbed both of my hands.  Now, let me stop here for a moment before I go further.  I have to tell you, Veronique is one of those people able to articulate a spontaneous prayer so eloquently that it is mesmerizing.  As she prayed for me, I began to get choked up.  All I could think was the Lord sure answered my prayers when I asked Him to surround me with friends who love Him as I do.   He has blessed me in abundance.  

Now, back to the coffee shop.  When Veronique finished praying, an older woman approached us and asked Veronique if she was a healer.  We just looked at each other and giggled.  "No, she said, we were just praying." She asked if we could pray for her as she was struggling with life at the moment.  The woman sat down between us and began describing her situation.  She was Islamic and Veronique clarified she would be praying in the name of Jesus Christ.  The woman had no problem with that and Veronique began.  After thanking and hugging both of us, she left, hopefully with some peace in her heart.  We were amazed, agreeing the Lord put her in our path that day.  The Lord never ceases to amaze me!

On another note, I am still looking for testimonies to be posted or emailed to me as I have told the publisher we would have the book together by the end of September or October.  So...I REALLY need the testimonies soon!  Here is an example of how Volume One affected my thirteen year old niece:

This Book Has Changed My Life By:

1. I have a closer relationship with God, Jesus and Mary.

2. I have learned a lot about living by not to be mean to anyone because they are God's child.

3. I believe in God, Jesus and Mary so much more than I did a long time ago.

4. Anne has inspired me to learn more about God, Jesus and Mary.

5. My Aunt and my Mom have inspired me to read more of Anne's books.

6. Now that my Mom has been reading Anne's book I pray every night.

7. I feel I am closer to God, Jesus and Mary.

8. I am more thankful for my life.

There is more to her testimony, but this says it all.  One small book opened a new world for a young girl in desperate need of the Lord.  Just think of how this can touch everyone in your life.  All you need to do is plant the seed and let Jesus work within that soul from there.  

Thank you, Jesus, for the opportunity to do Your work here on earth.  Guide my path today and everyday so that I may provide the smallest bit of comfort to those in need of Your love and compassion.

Blessings,

Bonnie S.

Eucharistic Day of Renewal in Justice, IL

I don't know where to start.  So, I'll just jump right in!  

First of all, my daughter Whitney (she came to the renewal with me)  and I have discovered a very important and disturbing similarity...we both are directionally challenged!  Not a good thing when in a strange town.  We got lost almost every time we left our hotel.  And usually it was within a three or four mile radius.  We actually attempted to drive into downtown Chicago after we settled in to our hotel Friday night.  Big mistake.  We discovered a premier shopping district right in the heart of downtown Chicago.  I felt like I was driving in New York City (which I have NEVER attempted).   Once on Michigan Ave., I headed for the first parking garage I could find.  We were both ravenous, spotting The Cheesecake Factory at the same time.  Just what the doctor ordered!  We laughed, ate and discussed what tomorrow would bring.  

It was a pleasure spending time with my daughter, now a young woman with the love of Jesus in her heart.  What more could a mother ask for?

Back at the hotel by 9 p.m.,  we stayed up until one a.m. narrowing down the questions I would ask when interviewing Anne and Dr. Mark Miravalle.  Satisfied, we fell asleep quickly and woke with excitement at 6:30am. Then, I looked out the window.  The rain was coming down in sheets.   So much for flat-ironed hair!  The gates opened 7:30am at Rosary Hill and we wanted to get there early to grab seats close to the front.  

By the time we arrived at 7:40am, seats were filled to the tenth row.  Volunteers with gold t-shirts were handing out programs, greeting everyone with warm smiles.  I needed to find Jane who has been my contact at DFOT and arranged for the interviews.  Then I spotted a woman in blue rushing around up front.  I knew instantly it had to be Jane.  A volunteer I spoke to earlier said she would let Jane know I was here.  I wore a red top to facilitate my whereabouts.  Jane made her way over to where I was sitting and gave me a warm hug.  "Come with me," she said excitedly, "I have some people I want you to meet."  I watched with profound respect as Jane affectionately greeted and then introduced me to fellow lay apostles.  Her energy was captivating.  As the time drew near for the program to begin, I made my way back to my seat next to Whitney.  I spotted Anne making her way to the front row.  The Holy Rosary would start our day meditating on the Luminous Mysteries.  Mary Sue Eck, publisher of Medjugorje Magazine with her husband Larry, gave the opening remarks.  

Anne was up next.  Her messages were inspiring and focused.  I will post another blog entry with my notes from her talk.  The rest of the day was a whirlwind.  Anne's talks were followed by mass and then lunch.  The sun was starting to shine and muddy grass was becoming a little less muddy!  Jim Gilboy, president of CMJ Marian Publishers, began the second half of the day with his personal testimony.  His story was engaging as he has had much to overcome.  

Dr. Mark Miravalle would give us Theological Commentary and practical advice on living the Apostolate highlighting Volume Ten next.  Dr. Miravalle is a Professor of Theology at Franciscan University of Steubenville.  He described Volume Ten as the "rescue manual" for lay apostles.  Each message was discussed individually, clarifying the meaning of Jesus' words.  I will also post a separate blog entry for my notes of his talk. 

The day ended with a Holy Hour of Eucharistic Adoration led by Fr. Kevin Scallon.  Anne finished with prayers for the intentions of all present (we had filled out a form and turned them in).  What a day!

I was told to meet Anne and Dr. Miravalle at the retreat center upon the conclusion of the Holy Hour.  Whitney and I were the first to arrive.  About 20 of us were escorted to a room the sisters graciously prepared  coffee and food while we waited.  I would be last to see Anne.  We met the most amusing young priest (a year older than me!) named Fr. Mike from Texas.  He was with a Lay Apostle group from Dallas.  

Dr. Miravalle appeared and was ready for our interview.  I rushed in leaving my digital recorder behind.  I would just have to wing it and rely on my note taking.  I have to admit I was a little intimidated due to his prestigious credentials.  But as we sat alone in a conference room to talk, all my fears subsided when he began to answer my questions.  His devotion and love of the Lord was evident in every word he spoke.   I wish I would have had more time to sit and learn from him.  Then, the door popped open and in comes Anne!  I had been anticipating this moment for months and it was finally here.  I got up quickly to greet her and she gave me a big hug and kiss on the cheek.  Dr. Miravalle needed to speak with her, so I excused myself and waited with Whitney until I was motioned to come back in the room.  Whitney was welcomed in as well, and greeted by Anne with a hug and a kiss on the cheek.  

Now comes the hard part to describe.  I want to convey the emotion and experience with clarity as though you were sitting right there with me.  So, here it goes!

The conference room had seats lined up facing the front in rows.  I had been sitting next to Dr. Miravalle earlier and reclaimed my seat.  Anne sat comfortably in the row ahead of me, turned with her arms draping over the back of the chair, one leg tucked under the other, and Whitney to her left. I briefly spoke of how the Volumes changed my life and that of my family and friends.  Anne was quick not to take any credit and humbly praised Jesus for the messages given to her. I fumbled with my small digital recorder and somehow found the record button after asking her permission to tape the interview.  She looked directly at me as she spoke, her crystal clear blue eyes focused and sincere.  For an instant, I got an overwhelming sensation I was looking in to the eyes of Jesus.  I can't explain it.  Sitting in her presence, there was no mistaking she is special.  Yet it was like conversing with a good friend.  

For those of you who know me and how passionate I can become (come on, be nice!), you can imagine as I was getting up to leave I felt the need to express the importance of this mission and that I was willing to do whatever Jesus gave me the graces to achieve.  Anne gently placed her hands on my face and said, "Bonnie, you are going to do great things for the Lord.  I will pray for him to give you clarity and direction."  We hugged goodbye and walked out of the room.  Jane was waiting there with a big smile on her face.  Mission accomplished, for now!

This forever shall be the most important interview God has blessed me with.  

 Thank you, Lord, for believing in me and giving me the opportunities and guidance to evangelize this mission.  

Blessings, 

Bonnie

Holding on to insecurities

Have you ever been in church listening to the priest give the sermon and feel he is talking directly to you?  Passing on a message direct from Jesus?  Well, that message was sent loud and clear as our lovely priest loudly said, three times, "do not be afraid, do not be afraid, do not be afraid." I have let go of many insecurities as I grow closer to Jesus, but there are those few stragglers that emerge when the right buttons are pushed, or the wrong thing is said.  I hold on tight to those little insecurities to no avail.  Nothing good ever comes out of lashing back out of fear or hurt.  As I sat in the pew with tears in my eyes listening to Fr. Stan, I knew it was time to really start trusting Jesus completely, in everything.  Then, the July 1st monthly message arrived in my inbox.  Not only did our Lord repeat Fr. Stan's request, He knocked the ball out of the park!  My wake up call for this month:

"My dear apostle.  You love Me, I know.  You serve Me with steadiness, I know.  `What is it that Jesus wants from me that I am not giving,` you ask.  I will tell you.  I want you to show Me that you understand My love for you by trusting Me.  I am hurt when you do not trust Me. Look at your time of service.  Would you agree that I have provided you with everything you need to see to your part in My plan?"

Thank you, Lord, for giving me the kick in the behind I needed to fully understand the extent of Your love and care.

Blessings, 

Bonnie S.

P.S.  Only 6 days until Chicago!

The Monthly Messages

Just when I think I have failed in some way to be Christlike (which happens a bit!), along comes the monthly message from Our Lord as given to Anne on the first of every month.  I eagerly anticipate the arrival of this email to my inbox from DFOT.  The monthly messages reassure me that the Lord sees and understands my shortcomings and loves me just the same.  He also provides loving comfort and direction to correct my course.  His words encourage and empower me to refocus on what is truly important, service to Him.  It's easy to see other's lives progressing as you wish yours was, causing a slight case of envy.  The message of June 1, 2008 contained my wake up call for this month.  My eyes were starting to veer toward the worldly view, creating angst in my heart.  Then, I read this:

"But the love I have for you and the plan I have for you is unique.  It will never be repeated.  I need you to continue on in your service to Me.  I need you to remember that you are called to live differently, that your life, which may not be proceeding exactly as you planned, is proceeding exactly as I planned."

Thank you, Lord, for knowing my fears and helping me to overcome them.

Blessings,

Bonnie S.

Beginnings

I find myself being cautious as I contemplate my blog post for today.  I have almost worn out my "delete" key erasing paragraphs as I strive to articulate the importance of this mission with compassion, clarity, and utility.  Here is my testimony.

As our small prayer group gathered this morning, the buzz of my upcoming jaunt in July to Chicago to attend the Eucharistic Day of Renewal consumed the first half hour.  This will be the second time I have seen Anne, A Lay Apostle bring the Word of God to Christians longing for an intimate relationship with Jesus.  The first time changed my life forever.  Now, two years later, I will be attending as a writer.  My career as an oncology/pain management research nurse was put on hold a few years ago to care (with my husband, sister and daughter) for my father, dying of metastatic malignant melanoma.  Becoming a caregiver outside of my usual clinical environment opened my eyes to another reality - that of a family member providing end of life care.  My father fought the "cancer" battle like a champion for four and a half months.  A few weeks after his death, our closest friends Joyce and Paul asked if my husband and I would like to attend a Eucharistic Day of Renewal in Clearwater, Florida. Joyce gave me Volume One to read prior to attending.  The messages resonated within my soul as if Jesus Himself was speaking directly to me.  As I anticipated Anne's arrival on stage that day, I searched the audience wondering who she was.  Would she have a luminous glow about her?  A halo encircling her head?  Then, a woman approached the podium and turned to speak.  To my surprise, she seemed as normal as you and I.  Someone I would be friends with.  Someone sitting in the pew in front of you at church.  But, there was something special about her.  The sound of her voice was comforting and as she spoke, I could sense the Holy Spirit taking hold of my heart and opening my eyes.   Being raised in a Catholic family and environment, I always had faith and prayed and believed.  But after leaving the conference, I finally got it.  I finally understood what having an intimate relationship with Jesus meant.  Anne made it so simple to understand.  I couldn't wait to start reading the rest of the Volumes I had purchased at the conference.  I was ready to commit to live as a lay apostle to the best of my ability.

A few months after my father's death, my mother's decline began.   With renewed strength and having finished all the Volumes, Climbing the Mountain and Mist of Mercy  (all by Anne, A Lay Apostle), I was prepared to face the challenges of taking care of mom.  My mother suffered a lifetime of mental illness, bipolar disorder to be exact.  Her end of life was about as traumatic (and dramatic!) as her entire life had been.  (That's a whole other book!).  After her death, thirteen months following my father's, I felt it was time for a change.   It was time to start writing.  I am blessed to have a husband fully supportive of this endeavor.

After having some articles accepted for publication in Christian magazines, I decided that I would write to DFOT to see if I could interview Anne over the phone or via email for an article I wanted to write about the mission.  I just sent if off, never imagining, in my wildest dreams, I would get an encouraging response.  After several emails and phone calls with Jane at DFOT, a plan was set in motion.  I am blessed with the opportunity to interview Anne and the other speakers in July at the Eucharistic Day of Renewal.  

Talk about overwhelming, exciting, amazing, unbelievable, and every other adjective that comes to mind.  This blog is the result of  brainstorming with our Ft. Myers group and Jane from DFOT.   We want to capture testimonials of Christians around the world touched by this ministry.  So, if the Lord just led you to this site and you want to know more, click on the picture of Jesus Christ the Returning King and it will lead you to the Direction For Our Times website.  The links on the right will take you to a .pdf file of the books Anne has written with the Lord's guidance called the "Heaven Speaks" series.  The "Volumes" link will take you to the page on the DFOT website where you can download .pdf files of every Volume to your computer.  

I want to thank the women in our Ft. Myers Lay Apostle group for their warmth, support and prayers while I embark on this path the Lord has laid out for me.  They all have truly touched my heart and I couldn't do this without them.

I pray these messages and this mission lead you to a closer relationship with our Jesus. He's ready when you are.  All you have to do is ask Him.  Lucky for us, He's compassionate and a good listener to boot!

Blessings, 

Bonnie S.

Welcome to our blog!

Greetings from wet, steamy Florida!  I am blessed to be a part of the Direction For Our Times mission as a practicing lay apostle and part of the Ft. Myers Lay Apostle prayer group.  We gather at 7:00pm in the paron the second Tuesday of every month at St. Cecilia's Catholic Church, 5632 Sunrise Drive, Ft. Myers, FL 33919.   All are welcome to attend!


To find other prayer groups in and around Ft. Myers, or for that fact, anywhere in the world, click here:  Locate a Lay Apostle Prayer Group