The Power of Love

Today is a day I have been anticipating for quite a while.  On my way to Washington, DC to become a grandma.  Life can't get any better than that.  Oh, wait!  It does!  When I get back home, I have a second grandson coming three months later!  I am ready to fall in love again as I did with each of my girls.

In Anne a lay apostle's book Lessons in Love, she describes our Father's unconditional love:

"I understand the smallest bit of the Father’s love for us. I know He loves us in all of our sinfulness and mistakes. The fact that He sent Jesus, all by itself, testifies to His good will in our regard. He wants us to do well. He hopes that we will do well. He sees any goodness in us, any attempt at holiness and He applauds this and rejoices in it. Our Father loves us."


As a parent and soon-to-be grandparent, I can relate to the feeling of such deep unconditional love. It's comforting to know our Lord loves us this much and even more than we can imagine.

Thank you, Lord, for loving me unconditionally.  And, for the blessing of two grandsons this year!  

God bless,

Bonnie

Long Long Way From Home

Anyone who knows me well will testify I'm a huge Foreigner fan.  When I was sixteen and living in southern California, my parents allowed me to drive from Ventura to Los Angeles with some friends to see them in concert.  It was their Double Vision tour in 1978 and the first concert I had ever been to.  I knew every word to every song.  Foreigner was my escape music.  When my mother was either very manic or severely depressed, no doubt you would hear Foreigner's Long Long Way From Home blaring behind my locked bedroom door.

At a recent Foreigner concert (only one original member remains, Mick Jones), my friend Karen and I had amazing second row seats while my daughter and her husband sat in the row behind.  As they were leaving the stage after the final song, the guitar players were throwing picks out into the audience and the drummer his drumsticks.   I was so excited to catch one of the drumsticks!  As soon as I grabbed it, a young girl next to me tried to grab it out of my hands!  I just looked at her and shook my head no.  As soon as she let go, the older woman on my other side grabbed it!  I calmly smiled at her and shook my head no, again.  This was my all time favorite band and I wasn't about to let it go!  How old am I?

Standing up for our belief in Jesus is kind of like my Foreigner drumstick.  Worth fighting for.  Actually, Jesus is worth dying for.  And the three men in today's first reading (Dn 3:14-20, 91-91, 95) refused to worship any other god except their own God.  Their faith so strong they were willing to die before they would ever renounce their Maker:

King Nebuchadnezzar's face became livid with utter rage against Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego. He ordered the furnace to be heated seven times more than usual and had some of the strongest men in his army bind Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego and cast them into the white-hot furnace.

Nebuchadnezzar rose in haste and asked his nobles, "Did we not cast three men bound into the fire?" "Assuredly, O king," they answered. "But," he replied, "I see four men unfettered and unhurt, walking in the fire, and the fourth looks like a son of God." Nebuchadnezzar exclaimed, "Blessed be the God of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, who sent his angel to deliver the servants who trusted in him; they disobeyed the royal command and yielded their bodies rather than serve or worship any god except their own God."

We are in an age of disobedience to God. Just turn on the news or read about the government trying to take away our religious freedom.  Read about the HHS mandate (www.stopHHS.com).  Christians, put God first!  Live by His rules only. Not by what makes your life easier or what you think you deserve!  Stand up for Christ who died for us!  Why is this concept so hard to understand?  Standing up for Christ may not always be politically correct, but He is worth any ridicule or threat.

In Volume Two, the Eucharistic Heart of Jesus, our Lord explains loyalty to Him in a very clear manner:

"My will for you includes peace, and peace will settle upon you as you begin to follow Me. My child, I have many enemies and few friends. May I call you My friend? Will you stand by Me during these days of disobedience? Please, join your heart to My heart and join your will to My will. Together We can save souls. My gratitude flows out to you and you will never understand the power of a grateful God. Truly, I am a slave to My children who serve Me, despite difficulty and ridicule. If I were dragging My cross through your town, surrounded by angry mobs, would you watch from a safe distance? Or would you stand with Me, taking a share of the weight of that cross? My child, do not fear if you answered from weakness. If you come to Me and let Me change you, I can make of you the most loyal and courageous servant."

Lay apostles, today, choose Christ.  Stand up for Him despite adversity.  For truly our salvation depends on Him and Him alone.  Put your trust in Him. Stick with your core convictions even when challenged.

Thank you, Lord, for giving me the courage to fight for You, regardless.  I know I am a Long Long Way From Home, but with You, I can endure any trial.

God bless,

Bonnie

Indifference to Sin

Distractions exist in abundance, don't they?  As a writer, I constantly battle my wandering mind.  The simplest things can draw me away from the task at hand.  When I'm at a loss for words, I check my email. Distraction. The buzzer goes off on my dryer signaling clothes needing to be folded. Distraction. Huge stacks of paperwork in need of filing. Big distraction!  My conscience warns me to stay on track.  But old habits die hard. Excuses are made.  Over time, my conscience may begin to accept the excuses as fact. I become lax in full focus and eventually become frustrated things aren't moving faster. Sounds a lot like our faith journey, right?  If we let the world dictate how we act and feel, how can we act and feel as God desires?  If we deviate from what is good and just, how can we ever escape our sins?

In today’s Gospel (John 8:21-30), Jesus shows us the way to our salvation is through the Father: 

Jesus said to the Pharisees: "I am going away and you will look for me, but you will die in your sin. Where I am going you cannot come." So the Jews said, "He is not going to kill himself, is he, because he said, 'Where I am going you cannot come'?" He said to them, "You belong to what is below, I belong to what is above. You belong to this world, but I do not belong to this world. That is why I told you that you will die in your sins. For if you do not believe that I AM, you will die in your sins."

In Volume One, our Blessed Mother graciously offers a direct path to her Son:

“We are making great strides with your souls, little ones. Even the smallest effort on your part is being rewarded greatly. It is important that you let go of many worldly concerns now and concern yourself with following God’s will in your life. There will always be something to distract you from prayer. To follow those distractions away from prayer is like leaving the path. If you know your destination, truly, children, you must stay on the road that leads you there. The road may seem rocky and difficult at first but that is no reason to change your destination. It is the road you must travel to come to me, my little ones. I am here. Do not be afraid. I will lead you to Jesus and you will be happy and filled with gratitude for the way Jesus is calling you. Your difficulties will seem as nothing to you then. Persevere with trust. It will come to you."

Lay apostles of all ages, what path are you following in your life?  The rocky yet heavenly path to Jesus or the easy sinful path while on this earth?  I am far from perfect.  But I am moving in the right direction despite a few steps backward once in a while!

Thank you, Lord, for continually correcting my missteps, always refocusing my gaze on You.  

God bless,

Bonnie  

Faithful Listening

Engrossed in conversations igniting passion within me can overwhelm others.  The Italian in me shines through on topics bearing any semblance to my experiences.  I just get so excited to share I don't take time to listen as much as I should.  The same principle applies in faith.  If our minds and prayers are busy asking God for what we want, how can we hear Him tell us what we need?  It takes great listening skills to hear God's plan for us.  And, once we've realized His plan, will we accept His guidance? Or, will we question it?

Today we celebrate the Solemnity of the Annunciation of the Lord.  The Gospel (Luke 1:26-38) today reflects on a young girl visited by an angel of God informing her, a virgin, she has been chosen to carry our Savior.  You can imagine her confusion!  But our Blessed Mother didn't bombard the angel with a bunch of questions about how God's plan will affect her life.  After listening carefully to the angel, this is her response:

Mary said, "Behold, I am the handmaid of the Lord. May it be done to me according to your word."

This, lay apostles, is faithful listening.  Taking what God gives you and making the best of it, no complaints.  Anything that happens to you in your life is for some greater plan we can't see at the moment.  Some times there are great injustices hard to swallow and to which no good could possibly come, right?  But if we do our absolute best and understand God is in control of our lives, any outcome is His and we must accept it, no matter how difficult or unfair it seems. I know this sounds impossible to do when bad things happen.  Please trust me when I say the more I listen to Him, the easier it is to bear hardships and surprises.  Just as Mary did.

Our Blessed Mother, in Volume One, emphasizes the importance of listening to Her Son:

"You see that Jesus is leaving nothing to chance. He wishes to guide His children in an unusual way during this time. All has been foreseen, dear children. I want you to say “no” to anxiety and distress. My children can rest peacefully in my arms these days, as Jesus fulfills His plan for the salvation of the world. How happy you will be to have participated. Jesus is granting you great graces by asking for your help. I know you will not disappoint Him. All you need to do to serve Him is be at peace and listen to His voice in prayer. Be still, little ones, and know that He is God. All else, all details, will flow naturally from that one directive. Do you hear the voice of your mother, little one? I am appealing to your heart and beg you to trust me and live my words. These are serious times, but I am with you and will quiet all of your fears. Be at peace now, and spend your time with Jesus in your heart."

Today, think about a hardship you endured in the past.  What lessons did you learn?  Was it more compassion for those in similar situations?  Was it increased knowledge for determining good over evil?  Don't think about the negative impact difficulties create, think about the good derived from them.

Thank you, Lord, for teaching me to listen more intently to Your messages through Sacred Scripture, the Gospels, and the Volumes. Your patience sustains me!

God bless,

Bonnie

They Know Not What They Do

Have you ever encountered an injustice that continues to replay itself over and over in your head months after it occurred?  This morning as I was making coffee, a particular issue (see blog post of January 10, 2012, Grace Under Fire) kept resurrecting itself, my brain trying to understand why this nasty event is still lingering.  I truly have forgiven the person, but I just can't wrap my arms around the fallout.  Why is this man unrelenting in his anger and indifference toward me now?  All I ever did was care about him, support him and most of all, believed in him from the first day we met.  I get the mood swings.  I get pushing away people who truly care about you so you don't get hurt.  But really, it's not about him.  It's about me.  It's about Jesus propelling me forward up the mountain of holiness, and it isn't usually effortless, is it?

So, back to making my coffee.  As this issue was dancing around in my head, I stopped what I was doing and in desperation asked Jesus to please help me to stop thinking about it.  Give me some kind of answer to quiet my mind.  Then, I sat down in my office to start this blog entry.  First thing I do is read Scriptures and the Gospel for the day.  Boy oh boy, Jesus answers me in warp speed sometimes!!

In today's first reading from Wisdom 2:18-22, my answer appeared:

. . . For if the just one be the son of God, he will defend him and deliver him from the hand of his foes. With revilement and torture let us put him to the test that we may have proof of his gentleness and try his patience. Let us condemn him to a shameful death; for according to his own words, God will take care of him." These were their thoughts, but they erred; for their wickedness blinded them, and they knew not the hidden counsels of God; neither did they count on a recompense of holiness nor discern the innocent souls' reward.

My gentleness and patience were tested.  This is all part of God's plan to draw us closer to Him.  Withstanding malice when innocent is one of the hardest lessons to learn.  And quite frankly, I don't like it!  But, the reading today brought me back to why we all must stay focused on Jesus and the path straight to Him.  They killed the most Innocent One who walked the face of this earth.  Why should I waste any time trying to figure out the "why" in this man's behavior?  I am thankful he came into my life. No, really!  I am!  Encountering someone with an aggressive exterior was a challenge Jesus prepared me for long ago.  I am so thankful I am able to look past the exterior and see the good in this man.  Hopefully he will come around some day and realize I'm not the enemy. Just someone who truly cares about him.

In one of my favorite books by Anne a lay apostle, Climbing the Mountain, she beautifully describes our path to following in Jesus’ footsteps:

'The Kingdom of God, in my experience, is all about truth. This truth is not negotiable and it does not change. Bad behavior is bad behavior and a bad behavior today does not become a good behavior tomorrow when we look at the spirit of the said behavior. How could it? Sin, a decision to separate oneself from God’s will, is known as sin in God’s Kingdom and none will spend time in heaven or purgatory trying to decide if a sin was a sin. If we search high and low in the next world, we will not find political correctness. What will we find? We will find truth, which is sometimes the opposite of political correctness. From the Christian point of view, which is the point of view Christians must operate from, it is merciful to speak the truth in love. In this time, there will be people who can justly stand up and say, “Nobody told me I was committing sin.” Those of us around these people who are proceeding in ignorance, particularly family members, may be accountable if we fail to offer loving correction. How does one share the truth? As lay apostles, we look always to the example of Jesus Christ in Scripture. First of all we ask ourselves if Jesus was politically correct. Did our Jesus hold back the truth so that people would like Him and not kill Him? No. Jesus Christ spoke the truth in the greatest gentleness and love. He spoke the truth as a teacher speaks the truth, with a goal of illuminating the soul of the person with whom he speaks, thus advancing that person so that the person can go on to accept even greater truths. Did Jesus say, “I know the truth and you do not, therefore I am better than you?” Did Jesus say, “I live the truth and you do not, therefore I am going to heaven and you are not?” Did Jesus say, “If you don’t immediately conform to My exact view of the truth you will go to hell?” Clearly not. It is not Jesus who speaks like this. Remember that Jesus had the complete truth. He was the Truth then and He is the Truth now, and yet, from this position of power Jesus was and is gentle and kind. We, His followers, are called to proceed similarly. We must speak the truth in kindness and gentleness, remembering always that we do not hold ourselves above anyone."

Thank you, Lord, for reminding me to stay focused on You, not on the world and its disappointments.  

God bless,

Bonnie

All that Sparkles

My mother loved anything shiny or sparkly.  Even now, five years after her death, when I see sweaters or shirts or purses decorated with sequins, I think of Mom.  Wearing these items made her feel special; made her feel she stood out in an otherwise drab existence. I could tell her how beautiful she was until I was blue in the face and she still wouldn't believe me.  But an outsider complimenting her? She glowed as if a movie star. She didn't see the beauty I saw in her blue-gray-green eyes and in her pierced heart. I saw past the mental illness and loved her more than she ever knew. We must learn to trust the love of our families, those closest to us. Just as we must trust in God and the love He has for all His children.

In today's Gospel (John 5:31-47), Jesus said to the Jews:

The works that the Father gave me to accomplish, these works that I perform testify on my behalf that the Father has sent me. Moreover, the Father who sent me has testified on my behalf.  But you have never heard his voice nor seen his form, and you do not have his word remaining in you, because you do not believe in the one whom he has sent.  You search the Scriptures, because you think you have eternal life through them; even they testify on my behalf.  But you do not want to come to me to have life.


I do not accept human praise; moreover, I know that you do not have the love of God in you.  I came in the name of my Father, but you do not accept me; yet if another comes in his own name, you will accept him.  How can you believe, when you accept praise from one another and do not seek the praise that comes from the only God?


The glitz and glamour we see on TV and in magazines is just that, shiny and sparkly.  People admire and believe in what celebrities say and do. Why is it so easy to deceive ourselves into thinking bad behavior and lack of faith is attractive?  It's not!  Lay apostles, don't be deceived.  If you are envious of relationships you see on TV, turn it off.  If you wish you could wear those beautiful sparkly gowns on the red carpet, don't buy the magazine.  Instead, do some spiritual reading.  There are so many inspiring books available at our fingertips.  No Turning Back by Fr. Donnie Calloway, Rediscover Catholicism by Matthew Kelly or Left to Tell by Immaculee Ilibagiza are a few of the most inspiring books I have ever read.  Look toward Christ.  He will not lead you astray.

In the May 2007 Monthly Message, Jesus guides us to closer union with Him:

“. . . My beloved apostle, please be disciplined about your time with Me in each day. I do not want you to be distracted. I do not want the world to take your hope from you. If you do not spend time with Me, you are vulnerable to the fears sowed by the enemy of hope. I rely on my beloved ones. In them I find rest and solace. You see, dear apostle, if I can change you and fill you with My great spiritual blessings, I can change others. Is there even one life that you can say you affected by your faith in Me and by My presence in you? Do not limit My plan in your mind. My plan is vast and it is working. Be joyful today as I am joyful. Hope in Me, dear one, as I hope in you. Trust in Me as I trust in you. Be with Me as I long to be with you and together we will fill the world with hope, drawing many wounded souls back into our family of love.”

My Lenten journey of solitude has brought peace and calm during this time of reflection.  The more I silence everything around me, the closer I become with our Savior.  Today, turn off the radio in your car or DVR your favorite show to watch later, spending quiet time with the Lord. You won't regret a second of it!

Thank you, Lord, for this time of solitude.  It is becoming my way of life, and I am so thankful the sparkles are disappearing.

God bless,

Bonnie

Owning up to Indescretions

Repairing my past has been a long bumpy road.  Honesty is my new policy, and it's not always pretty.  Asking for forgiveness is risky, but it's a risk I'm willing to take. So, how do you approach someone about potentially damaging information you revealed to another?  Do you take the chance they never find out?  Or do you own up to what you did, possibly causing a rift in the relationship?  Others will judge our actions, and that is acceptable. Whether we like it or not, judgments will be made.  But the important thing here is how we respond in turn.  Our natural instinct is to become defensive when reprimanded. Instead of defending yourself, be understanding of the other person's reaction, and ask for forgiveness.

In today's Responsorial Psalm (Ps 145) we say, "The Lord is gracious and merciful."  But the following is what prompted my blog entry today:

The LORD is faithful in all his words and holy in all his works. The LORD lifts up all who are falling and raises up all who are bowed down.

Humility can bring us to our knees. But the Lord is there waiting to lift us up!  Take responsibility for your actions no matter what.  Don't lie, or cheat, or hide the truth.  What's done is done. All we can do is accept the consequences and stay focused on the path to holiness.

In Anne a lay apostle’s book, Lessons in Love, she shows us the compassion Jesus has for us:

“Now in the case of necessary reprimands, Jesus also moves gently. He whispers to the soul who places himself in silence and who truly seeks the light of Christ. The Lord gently illuminates an area of mistake or a departure from the path. Picture a dimmer light switch being turned up ever so slowly. We may have suspected we were at fault. On some level we knew we were behaving in a manner inconsistent with the true call to behave like Christ. Jesus needs us to see this. He needs to identify our erroneous actions or thinking and He does so in silence, gently, but seriously. When I say He corrects gently, I want to communicate that the Lord is never spiteful and He never gloats at our mistakes or sins. He never says gleefully, “Got you.” He does not lie in wait to catch us sinning, like the Pharisees did to Him. Rather He stands alongside the path to prevent us from wandering away.”

Thank you, Lord, for nudging me to ask for forgiveness when I have hurt someone.  Please give me the graces to accept the consequences of my actions.

God bless,

Bonnie

Patience IS a Virtue!

My oldest daughter is about two and a half weeks away from giving birth to my first grandchild.  Seeing pictures of her recently (she lives up north) brought back memories of my pregnancy with her.  I could hardly wait to see the miracle God was blessing us with!  My due date came and went.  Each day as I grew bigger, my patience grew smaller.  All the phone calls asking about contractions, water breaking and just wanting to know if I was in labor added to my growing impatience. My baby girl finally decided to grace this world two weeks late!  Think God was trying to teach me a little fortitude?  If I only knew then what I know now.

In today's Gospel (John 5:1-16), Jesus comes upon a crippled man who is the epitome of patience.  Talk about fortitude!

One man was there who had been ill for thirty-eight years. When Jesus saw him lying there and knew that he had been ill for a long time, he said to him, "Do you want to be well?" The sick man answered him, "Sir, I have no one to put me into the pool when the water is stirred up; while I am on my way, someone else gets down there before me." Jesus said to him, "Rise, take up your mat, and walk." Immediately the man became well, took up his mat, and walked.


Patience is a difficult virtue to possess today.  We have become a culture of convenience and urgency.  Why call someone when you can text?  Wait in line at the grocery store? Nope. I had twelve items one time in a "10 items or less line" because I threw in a couple packs of gum.  The person behind me made sure I realized the correct item count.  I apologized for the five second delay I caused. Yes, our society needs a big lesson in patience. Not only patience with others, but ourselves, too.

In the August 2008 Monthly Message, Jesus lovingly encourages us to stay focused and patient:

“My dear ones, I am with you in your struggles. How can I help you to understand that your struggles are necessary to your holiness? Perhaps you should simply trust Me and view your struggles as evidence that I continue working to perfect your soul. If there were no struggle, My little apostles, there could be no possibility of advancement. This is a time to make great gains in holiness but gains are only possible with effort. I am making every effort toward you. Are you making efforts to move closer to Me? Ask yourself today and each day, ‘Where is God asking me to be holier today?’ Perhaps it is charity, perhaps patience, possibly trust, maybe you should practice concentrating on your holiness and refrain from examining the work needed in other souls.”

Opportunities to practice patience appear every day.  Whether it's waiting for the Tylenol to kick in for your headache or anticipating a return phone call, God provides circumstances to improve.  What can you do today to show patience?  Me?  About 10 minutes ago I text someone and didn't get a return answer yet . . . 

Thank you, Lord, for showing me patience in my struggles only leads to You and greater holiness.  Please grace me with the ability to see situations with Your Eyes, not mine.

God bless,

Bonnie

A Man to Emulate

It seems rare today for children to be raised by their biological father.  With so many divorces and remarriages, it's no wonder some kids are confused and rebellious. Becoming a step-father (new fathers, foster fathers, etc too) can bring so much joy if there is love and patience (especially during the teenage years!).  It's a privilege and honor to be given children other than your own to nurture.  Today we celebrate the Solemnity of St. Joseph, husband of the Blessed Virgin Mary.  And, earthly father of Jesus.  Here is a man who discovers his betrothed is with child, and not biologically his. Yet when an angel of the Lord visited Joseph in a dream telling him to take Mary as his wife in his home, he did exactly as God asked.  He became the best father he could be to the child within.  He loved and protected Jesus as if his very own.  St. Joseph is a shining example of what it requires to love another's child.  It's what every father and step-father must emulate.

In today's Gospel (Luke 2:41-51a), Jesus shows His respect for both Joseph and Mary:

After three days they found him in the temple, sitting in the midst of the teachers, listening to them and asking them questions, and all who heard him were astounded at his understanding and his answers. When his parents saw him, they were astonished, and his mother said to him, "Son, why have you done this to us? Your father and I have been looking for you with great anxiety." And he said to them, "Why were you looking for me? Did you not know that I must be in my Father's house?" But they did not understand what he said to them. He went down with them and came to Nazareth, and was obedient to them.

Can you imagine a twelve year old listening to his step-father in today's society?  I have met exceptional step-fathers who love and nurture their stepchildren.  And, I have met men who could care less about their stepchildren. If they only knew the precious gift God graced them with to love and protect . . .

In Volume Six, St. Joseph Speaks to Fathers, he gives guidance in being the best father for those little souls with which you have been blessed:

“. . . What I want to stress to you, fathers of the world, is that your children need your love, along with these other things. Children, more than anything, must know that their father loves them and considers them precious. Your actions every day will tell your children how you feel about them. If you are called on to correct a child, do so gently, with love. If a child angers you, you must remember that you were once a child and made similar mistakes. Do not frighten your children, fathers. This is not love. This is the opposite of love. Your child should respect you, of course, and you should not tolerate behavior that will not be welcome in the Kingdom, but expect some bad behavior and expect to have to gently correct your children. Fathers often make the mistake of thinking that their primary function with children is that of disciplinarian. This is an error. Your primary function as a father is to love and then to set an example that your children can follow which will result in eternity in heaven. Are you doing this, dear man? Be vigilant in examining your own behavior and be certain that your children are not mimicking something in you when they misbehave. This is important, so pay heed.”

If only all fathers could read this and follow in St. Joseph's footsteps.  He did, after all, raise the Son of Man, our Savior Jesus Christ!  He loved and protected Mary and Jesus. As parents, shouldn't we do the same?

Thank you, Lord, for giving me an earthly father who loved and cared for me the best he could.  I pray all fathers heed the words of St. Joseph above.  

God bless,

Bonnie

Love God With All Your Heart

Loving God with all my heart seems easy.  He has blessed me with so much love in my life.  But am I loving God with all my heart when I feel worthless inside?  When I fail and sadness sets in?  When guilt over things I cannot control cause unrest? No, I am not loving Him with all my heart because He lives within me.  Within all of us.  How can we love Him completely without loving ourselves?  Luckily, the boxing match in my head doesn't occur very often anymore.  But when it does, I pray. The evil one is sleeplessly watchful for a moment to draw us into self-doubt.  Remember, even when life goes awry and the future appears dismal, focus on this day, this hour, this minute.  Stop and thank God for His unending love.  And, give yourself a break.


Today's Gospel (Mark 12:28-34), one of the scribes asks Jesus which commandment is the greatest of them all.  Here is His response:

Jesus replied, "The first is this: Hear, O Israel! The Lord our God is Lord alone!

You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul,  with all your mind, and with all your strength. The second is this: You shall love your neighbor as yourself. There is no other commandment greater than these." The scribe said to him, "Well said, teacher. You are right in saying, He is One and there is no other than he. And to love him with all your heart, with all your understanding, with all your strength, and to love your neighbor as yourself is worth more than all burnt offerings and sacrifices." And when Jesus saw that he answered with understanding, he said to him, "You are not far from the Kingdom of God." And no one dared to ask him any more questions.

Do you see the recurring theme in every word Jesus ever spoke?  Love.  Love God. Love ourselves.  Love our neighbor. It's that simple. 

In Volume Three, God the Father gives us this gentle warning:

"True happiness can be found only in the union of a soul’s will to the Divine Will. When your will is united to the Divine Will, there is no conflict, no struggle. Only a very few find such union on earth. The seeking of this union is the path to holiness that you follow in your obedience to My commandments. You are making decisions. You are moving forward along the road. You are making corrections. This is the process. At times in the history of mankind, most souls on earth were moving in the general direction of heaven. At this time, most souls are languishing along the way. Many are wasting their time on earth and are not coming in this direction at all. In this way, souls are lost. As a God of mercy, I send all manner of signs and warnings. In this time, however, most of My signs are being ignored. Such is the level of distraction, that My souls no sooner see a sign and experience My call, then they allow themselves to be distracted and pulled back into the world. Children, pay attention. You must focus on Me and on your path."

What can you do today to show God you love Him by loving yourself?  Since this is the third Friday in Lent and a day of fasting, show Him your love by eating less or skipping a meal (unless pregnant, etc.). Replace the meal with prayer. Or, if you are in need of exercise, take a walk.  Just do something for your own good and for your love of God.

Thank you, Lord, for pulling me up by the bootstraps when I am down, reminding me that loving myself means loving You.  

God bless,

Bonnie 

A Leap of Faith

Two of my daughters have been skydiving.  A good friend has done over 700 jumps and skydives every weekend.  The thought of leaping out of an airplane scares me to death. What if the parachute doesn't open?  What if you forget when to pull the cord to release it?  There are rules and regulations to assure the best outcome when jumping.  An experienced instructor teaches you about the equipment so you understand everything about the huge thing strapped to your back.  And, you listen very carefully, right?  You don't want to plunge 100 mph to your death!  I am not an adrenaline junky in any way, shape or form.  But ask anyone to describe the experience and they will tell you it's liberating.  One minute of pure heaven . . . a leap of faith.


Isn't belief in God like skydiving?  We need Christ, priests and pastors (instructors) to guide and teach us about the Bible (equipment) so we are ready for the day we are called to heaven (the jump).  Take a leap of faith.  Start implementing those rules and regulations daily knowing the Great Instructor wants us to arrive safe and sound. Believe.


In today's Gospel (Luke 11:14-23), Jesus is driving demons out of a mute man in front of a crowd.  The mute man speaks and the crowd was amazed. And yet they still ask Jesus for another sign from heaven.  Poor sweet Jesus!  After knowing what they were thinking (disbelief), He tells the crowd that the Kingdom of God is upon them now.  It came upon all of mankind when our Savior was born in Bethlehem.

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.

Our protective armor is Christ!  With Him, we can overcome the wickedness and snares of the devil! 

In Volume Three, God the Father lovingly, yet firmly, prepares us for our journey to Him:

“Children, if you are not following My words, if you are not united with Me, if you do not acknowledge and respect My dominion over both you and your world, you are going to be uncomfortable and frightened. These times are over. My time is coming. There will be gladness, it is true. It is what My children have prayed for. But change is difficult for those without a firm understanding and belief in the next world. If you were asked to hand your life to Me this day, and account for it fully, how would you feel? Would you feel calm? Would you feel confident that while you have made mistakes, you have done your best and can offer Me a fair trade for your eternal reward? Could you even say, “God, I have wasted much of My time here on earth but I see that you are the Creator and I bow before you?” That is all that is necessary for your salvation, child, but you are going to wish that you had a small bit of something to give Me.”


I would like to end with a great quote from one of my favorite saints, St. Therese, the Little Flower:

Many people say, "I don't have the courage to make this sacrifice." Let them do what I did: exert a great effort. God never refuses that first grace which gives one the courage to act; afterwards the heart is strengthened.

Thank you, Lord, for giving us Your Words within the Volumes through Anne, and from all Your great saints. Truly Direction for Our Times.  

God bless,

Bonnie

Obedience . . . it's a conscious choice

Living your faith on a daily basis and to the fullest extent requires perseverance despite any obstacle.  Just when I think I've got it right, the enemy sneaks in a curve ball.  Just when I think I am failing miserably, miracles occur and prayers are answered. Obedience to the laws of our faith may seem unattainable.  It requires giving up sinful behavior to follow Christ. I hear and read people saying the Catholic Church has "too many rules." Or, "it doesn't want anyone to have a good time." Well, I was one of those people in my younger days.  And guess what? Not following the rules and having a good time did NOT make me feel better about myself.  It didn't give me confidence and peace and calm.  It made me feel used, overwhelmed, angry, cheated, and unloved.  The rare moments I was "having a good time" evaporated so quickly, it left me unsatisfied.  After my divorce, I decided to become the woman I should have been when I was 18 by living my Catholic faith and making choices for Christ, not myself.  And, it is not easy! But, I have never been more happy, peaceful, calm, loved, or confident. I just wish it wouldn't have taken so long to get here. My school of hard knocks is finally paying off.  Invaluable lessons have been passed on to my children, and soon my grandchildren.

Today's reading (Deuteronomy 4:9) reiterates the importance of paying it forward:

"However, take care and be earnestly on your guard not to forget the things which your own eyes have seen, nor let them slip from your memory as long as you live, but teach them to your children and to your children's children."

If you have children, no matter what age, are you teaching them about the virtues of good Christian men and women?  Or are you selfishly letting them discover everything on their own because "they won't listen to you anyway?"  Please, parents, godparents, foster parents, adoptive parents . . . Christians, remember how most of us became Christians. From our parents, grandparents, teachers, priests, or loved ones generation after generation.  Or, maybe you came to your faith through hitting rock bottom and Jesus was there to save you. You are IMPORTANT to history. As in the reading today, don't let valuable Christian principles slip from your memory.  Live them and pay it forward to anyone and everyone around you.  You never know who is listening.

In the February 2007 Monthly Message, Jesus shows us the only way to obedience is through trusting Him:

“ . . . 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.”

Today, choose to be obedient in some area of your life.  Maybe it's praying before a meal; praying the Rosary; complimenting a stranger; smiling more; putting down that candy bar and making a healthier choice; what ever it is, DO SOMETHING!  Like Jesus says, He does not expect us to be perfect all at once! Baby steps, right?

Thank you, Lord, for knowing I am fallible and that it will probably take the rest of my life to be in complete obedience to You.  I promise to give it my all!

God bless,

Bonnie

DFOT Summer School of Holiness

Good morning fellow lay apostles!  New and wonderful things are springing up at Direction for Our Times!  There is a new program beginning this summer for young adults ages 18-25.  If you know any young adult interested in attending or you are interested in contributing financially to this wonderful extended retreat, please prayerfully read the following:

Share: Summer School of Holiness June 4th - June 22nd Cavan, Ireland This summer, Direction for Our Times is starting a 'School of Holiness' and we need your help! Over the past year we have put on retreats in Ireland for college students. These retreats have been very blessed and so we are now providing a 3 week summer program for college students and young adults. How can you help? We are asking for you to assist us through prayer, financial assistance, and by helping spread the word. Maybe your lay apostle prayer group could sponsor one student who feels called to attend, but cannot afford to. To assist these young people we are hoping to set up a scholarship fund to defray the cost. Many who are interested in participating in our summer program are college students who cannot afford the full cost of travelling to Ireland. If you know of relatives or friends who may be interested in attending, please pass on this information to them. For more information on this retreat or to register, please click here. Please spread the word. Space is limited. For further information to make a donation, contact Justin Sofio at (708)496-9300 or Justin@directionforourtimes.org.