Thursday, May 31, 2012

The 3rd Annual Global Rosary Relay for Priests

Please plan to take part in this important event June 15, 2012.  It begins at 5:00PM PT, 8:00PM ET.  60 Rosaries in 60 countries in 24 hours! Our priests need our prayers!  


Go to www.worldpriestday.com to find out how to participate.

As Good As It Gets

Today we celebrate the Feast of the Visitation of the Blessed Virgin Mary.  Mary travelled to the town of Judah where her older cousin Elizabeth (six months pregnant) and husband Zechariah lived. Her compassion and love for her cousin drew her to Elizabeth's side to assist with the difficulties of pregnancy and childbirth. This journey took place after Mary was visited by the angel and told she would be carrying our Savior. If you pray the Joyful Mysteries of the Rosary, you know this line well when Elizabeth hears Mary's greeting upon her arrival: "Most blessed are you among women, and blessed is the fruit of your womb. And how does this happen to me, that the mother of my Lord should come to me? For at the moment the sound of your greeting reached my ears, the infant in my womb leaped for joy.” 


One morning in early December 2011, I sat on my back patio praying the Joyful Mysteries of the Rosary.  My oldest daughter was six months pregnant at the time.  My middle daughter and her husband were patiently trying conceive for almost a year. When I got to the second Joyful Mystery when Mary visited Elizabeth, I knew.  My middle daughter was pregnant. She lives close to me and we work out together during the week.  That day, when she arrived for our daily routine, I told her about the Rosary and that I was sure she was pregnant.  Being the skeptic she is, she told me she wasn't getting her hopes up.  But her faith is strong and she was ready to accept any outcome as God's Will.  About a week before Christmas, I received a text with a picture of a positive pregnancy test! And, she is now seven months pregnant with my second grandson. This, my friends, is as good as it gets. If we say "yes" to Christ and believe as our Blessed Mother and Elizabeth did, miracles can happen! 


Todays first reading (Romans 12:9-16) is printing as I write this. Basically, rules for living the Christian life on the path to heaven:
Brothers and sisters: Let love be sincere; hate what is evil, hold on to what is good; love one another with mutual affection; anticipate one another in showing honor. Do not grow slack in zeal, be fervent in spirit, serve the Lord. Rejoice in hope, endure in affliction, persevere in prayer. Contribute to the needs of the holy ones, exercise hospitality. Bless those who persecute you, bless and do not curse them. Rejoice with those who rejoice, weep with those who weep. Have the same regard for one another; do not be haughty but associate with the lowly; do not be wise in your own estimation.
In Anne a lay apostle’s book The Mist of Mercy, she defines the mercy of God for any sinner willing to live their life in humility for His Son.  It all starts with you:

“Think small steps and the Lord will do big things. Do not avoid your role in the renewal because you have sinned. If you are repentant, you are just the type of person needed. One who comes to God in humility can be restored to purity in an instant. God has no difficulty in forgiving a repentant sinner. It is far more difficult for God to deal with a person who serves heaven but takes all the credit. It is God who grants holiness, after all. It is God who performs miracles.”

Miracles are happening all around us.  Sometimes we get caught up in our own chaotic lives and become jaded. We forget to slow down and look for the blessings.  Today, lay apostles, stop for a minute and write a list of all the positives in your life.  Forget the negatives for a minute.  Take that list and post it somewhere convenient to view every day.  Even add to the list as new miracles and blessings occur.  When you are having a rough day, look at that list.  When you are having a wonderful day, add to it.  Soon you will be focusing a majority of your time looking for the blessings instead of letting them pass right by. You will begin to see Jesus more clearly and the impact He can have on your life. 

Thank you, Lord, for the miracles and blessings you have bestowed on my family and me. Focusing on the good sure beats dwelling on the bad!

God bless,
Bonnie

Wednesday, May 30, 2012

Service Without Recognition

Have you ever had anyone take credit for your hard work?  What about praise given to those contributing mediocre effort while you have given your all and received none?  Presuming it's happened to most of us at some point, it's tough feeling unappreciated. Our initial instinct is to make the "praiser" aware of our labors.  Let them know we are due the notoriety. But this is where we get it wrong as Christians. Humility is what Jesus preaches, not seeking approval and praise. I highly recommend reading the Litany of Humility on a daily basis.  I posted it here: http://ftmyerslayapostles.blogspot.com/2011/12/difficult-request-from-our-lord.html
Reading it every day strengthens my commitment of service to Him, not the world.  


In todays Gospel (Mark 10:32-45), James and John are seeking a little recognition for their own efforts.  They ask Jesus, "Grant that in Your glory we may sit one at Your right and the other at Your left." You can imagine the other ten apostles were a tad bit upset with the two men asking for something they all felt worthy of.  Being the Divine Teacher Jesus is, He uses this opportunity to educate His apostles:

"You know that those who are recognized as rulers over the Gentiles lord it over them, and their great ones make their authority over them felt. But it shall not be so among you. Rather, whoever wishes to be great among you will be your servant; whoever wishes to be first among you will be the slave of all. For the Son of Man did not come to be served but to serve and to give his life as a ransom for many."

In the May 2009 Monthly Message, Jesus continues to teach us of service to the Kingdom:

“How often have I called you ‘My little apostles’? Have I ever called you ‘My big apostles’? Why do you think it is that I call you ‘little’? I will tell you. It is because each apostle, by his desire to serve, becomes little. He becomes little so that God can be glorified. If a person is serving Me, that person desires only My glory. If a person is serving Me, he desires to be seen as a servant of men, not as a master of men. In the case of leaders, this desire for humility must be even more pronounced lest the leader begin to believe that he himself is leading, as opposed to My great hope which is that I, Jesus, am leading through the man. I intend to send leaders during this time. You will know them by their spirit of service. You will know them by their humility. You will know them because they will help you to think of Me and what I need from you. No man is entitled to the glory reserved for God.”

Lay apostles, I know how disheartening lack of appreciation can feel. It hurts. It makes me question my motives. So now I ask myself in all situations, am I doing this for the Glory of God? "Yes" is always the correct answer. I must say a "no" sneaks in once in a while. I'm only human.  I can choose to be sad and depressed because I'm not recognized.  Or, I can live and serve in humility, waiting for my reward in heaven.  I choose the latter.  Not the easiest choice, but "I can do all things through Christ, who gives me strength." (Phil 4:13)

Thank you, Lord, for showing me the value of service to others. Give me the strength I need to fight the temptation of wanting recognition from the world.  Feel free to continue nudging me back into place when I go there!

God bless,
Bonnie

Tuesday, May 29, 2012

What We Inherit

Why is it so hard to let go of material things after a loved one has passed away?  My house holds almost everything both parents had at end of life.  It's not much, but there are some items I just can't part with.  For example, my mother's white poodle lipstick holder. My childhood pet was a French Poodle of who Mom was very proud to say was bilingual (she was fluent in French and taught Pepe commands in both languages!). So, I made it part of the guest bathroom decor.  Then there's the carousel picture made of puzzle pieces my father glued together and framed. His father owned a carousel on Coney Island when he and his brothers were growing up. It's hanging by the entrance to my house through the garage. Both reminders of two people I love and miss terribly.  One day when I'm gone, my daughters will have the pleasure of going through all my belongings. What will they choose as a reminder of me?  Material things only take up space and eventually fall apart or decay. But there is one inheritance from my parents which I have given my girls. The gift of faith.  For truly eternal inheritance comes from God, not something money can buy to be passed on generation after generation. 

In todays first reading (1 Pt 1:3-9) Peter speaks of our heavenly inheritance:


Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who in his great mercy gave us a new birth to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, to an inheritance that is imperishable, undefiled, and unfading, kept in heaven for you who by the power of God are safeguarded through faith, to a salvation that is ready to be revealed in the final time. In this you rejoice, although now for a little while you may have to suffer through various trials, so that the genuineness of your faith, more precious than gold that is perishable even though tested by fire, may prove to be for praise, glory, and honor at the revelation of Jesus Christ.

Although you have not seen him you love him; even though you do not see him now yet you believe in him, you rejoice with an indescribable and glorious joy, as you attain the goal of faith, the salvation of your souls.



In the Monthly Message of January 2006, Jesus explains how to achieve eternal life:

“Dear friends of the Saviour, together We are changing your world. When souls feel fear, We will bring calm. When souls feel anger, We will bring forgiveness. When souls feel abandoned, We will bring love. When souls feel great grief, We will bring comfort. And when souls see death, We will bring them to an acceptance of heaven so that they understand eternal life. Many in the world today do not understand their inheritance. This creates a fear of death that prevents souls from living fully. If a soul accepts the Truth about eternity, that soul works for Me because the soul knows that glory only lasts if it is obtained for heaven. The glory of heaven is love and is obtained by how much one loved on earth. Souls will be disappointed when they look back on their life if their life was lived in selfishness and if their purpose in life was to obtain worldly goods. This will be a disappointment for them, for Me, and for their families if their families were led astray by this flawed vision of the purpose of life. If you realign the purpose in your life, I will then help to realign the purpose for each member of your family. This is My promise to you. Make Me, Jesus Christ, the purpose of your life, and I will work through you to claim the world.”

And in Volume One, Jesus has this to add:

“The world offers you nothing. The world does not love you. Indeed, you will find only rejection and hatred in the world. Come back to Me and begin to examine your inheritance, which is goodness, love, and eternal security and joy.”

Lay apostles, while material possessions may provide temporary comfort, don't place too high a value on them. The real comfort lies with Christ.  Let your legacy be one of faith.  Get to know Jesus intimately through the Bible, through this apostolate, and through your church community. When you do, life becomes . . . easier and less disappointing.

Thank you, Lord, for the promise of eternal life with You.  Please help me to continue guiding my daughters toward heaven and not toward Ruffy (my stuffed dog from childhood which I will be discarding today)! 

God bless,
Bonnie

Friday, May 25, 2012

Sins Are Forgiven

Decisions made in the heat of the moment can go one of two ways.  We can either react emotionally, shooting daggars at the offending party. Or we can keep our comments to ourselves remembering every human being is a child of God. Even the worst of the worst. Think about Jesus on the cross.  Two criminals on each side of Him. One of the them hurling insults at Christ and the other realizing He was the Son of God, asking Jesus to remember him in His Kingdom.  How did Jesus respond?  He told the man he would be with Him in paradise.  It's never too late to repent.  No matter what your sins are, no matter how grave, Jesus is ready to forgive.  

Todays Gospel (John 21:15-19) is a perfect example of the forgiveness we can expect from our Lord:


After Jesus had revealed himself to his disciples and eaten breakfast with them, he said to Simon Peter, "Simon, son of John, do you love me more than these?" Simon Peter answered him, "Yes, Lord, you know that I love you." Jesus said to him, "Feed my lambs." He then said to Simon Peter a second time, "Simon, son of John, do you love me?" Simon Peter answered him, "Yes, Lord, you know that I love you." He said to him, "Tend my sheep." He said to him the third time, "Simon, son of John, do you love me?" Peter was distressed that he had said to him a third time, "Do you love me?" and he said to him, "Lord, you know everything; you know that I love you." Jesus said to him, "Feed my sheep.


Peter had denied Jesus three times. Paul was persecuting Christians.  And yet they became true disciples of Christ.  All Jesus asked was they feed and tend to His sheep. That's all He asks of us.  Love Him and spread the Good News.  


In the Monthly Message of March 2009, Jesus teaches us how to be humble:



"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."



Thank you, Lord, for bringing your lay apostles words to live by.  Continue to help me forgive unconditionally.  And most especially, to remain silent when I want to throw daggars. 


God bless,
Bonnie

Thursday, May 24, 2012

Refusing to Throw In the Towel

A few days ago my son-in-law Kevin and I tore my front-loading dryer apart, literally.  The night before I was leaving for DC last month, I was finishing up laundry for the trip. All of the sudden the dryer started smoking profusely, filling my entire house.  Luckily my first instinct was to unplug it. There was nothing I could do as my flight left at 8:00am the next morning.  After my return from DC, we attempted to diagnose the dryer problem. Kevin unscrewed the bottom panel of the dryer only to find a TON of burned lint that had probably caught fire. Kevin figured out the problem and I ordered the part to fix it.  He came over a few days ago to attempt the repair.  We got the new drum seal on, put it all back together, and then prayed the problem was solved.  After he left, I stuck a towel in to see if it was back to working.  No such luck!  I kept getting an error code and found out (via www.managemylife.com) I needed a new thermostat. I am determined to fix this myself, so ordered the part yesterday.  Then last night after ending my work day, I walked into my bedroom and glanced at the thermostat outside my bedroom door.  It said 80 degrees.  Yes, my air conditioner stopped working and it's summer in Florida. If it isn't one thing, it's another, right? So I flipped all the breakers twice to reset it hoping to fix the problem.  It didn't.  Exasperated by all the failing electronics in my house, I walked to the kitchen to make dinner, praying out loud, "Lord, please let my air conditioner work!"  It's extremely expensive to have an A/C person make a house call, let alone fix any problems.  I decided to leave the worrying to Jesus. Hours later I went to my bedroom for something and guess what?  My air conditioner was working!  Praise Jesus! In life, there is always going to be something malfunctioning, but throwing in the towel isn't the answer.

In todays first reading (Acts 22:30, 23:6-11), St. Paul was brought in front of the whole Sanhedrin to defend his spreading the Word of Christ. The crowd was split on their belief of resurrection, angels and spirits. One group didn't believe in any of it.  The other group believed in all three.  You can imagine the uproar.  After surviving another day, the Lord had this to say to St. Paul:

The following night the Lord stood by him and said, "Take courage. For just as you have borne witness to my cause in Jerusalem, so you must also bear witness in Rome."
We can learn so much from Scripture.  St. Paul could have said to the Lord, "Look, I tried my best and they just won't listen. Let's just throw in the towel and cut our losses." But he didn't.  He did exactly as Jesus asked.  He picked up his cross and persevered.
In the October 2006 Monthly Message, Jesus assures us if we resist throwing in the towel, we will ultimately triumph:

"Dearest apostles, so brave, I am with you. I do not tell you that you will be overcome. I do not tell you that you have been given work that is impossible for you to complete. Those messages do not come from Me. Instead, I tell you that you will persevere and ultimately triumph. Our mission of mercy does not falter, even though the steps of my little apostles sometimes falter. This mission pushes through the world with a steadiness that defies all attempts against it. My apostles experience fear at times. This is not a problem for Me or this mission. Fear is to be expected. Bring your fear to Me and explain to Me exactly what threatens you. If you do this, I can remove your fear. I will convince you that in My presence, with My power, everything is possible. You have an expectation of your little boat crashing against the rocks. I will never allow this. If I am steering the boat that is your work, you will be carried safely. Push on into each day with courage, understanding that while you may not be able, I am able. You may lack courage, but I have courage. You sometimes walk in darkness, but I have the light with which to see exactly where your footsteps are taking you. Dear apostles, it is a time for hard work, yes, but a time for great glory, also. Rejoice. I am with you."

Thank you, Lord, for pushing me to never give up despite malfunctions in life.  I trust You in everything.  But, can I please request no more electronic failures for a while? ;-)

God bless,
Bonnie





Wednesday, May 23, 2012

Faithful Citizenship

Politics are not my cup of tea.  When I do occasionally watch the news, the media's liberal agenda has me aggravated within the first few minutes. My oldest daughter and her husband who live and breathe politics in DC learned very quickly why I don't watch the news. I stayed with them the whole month of April for the birth of my grandson. Every night FOX news or some news broadcast was on . . . for hours at a time!  After the first week, I became quite irate during those hours listening to complete nincompoops voice their opinions.  It became a joke with my daughter.  When she would realize I was getting upset, she would jokingly say to her husband, "Kev, turn the channel.  Mom is getting angry!"  


Last night I attended a meeting regarding Faithful Citizenship which is a teaching document on the political responsibilities of Catholics written by U.S. bishops.  It is a must read, even if you're not Catholic.  Here is the link: 


http://www.usccb.org/issues-and-action/faithful-citizenship/forming-consciences-for-faithful-citizenship-document.cfm


And for further reading pleasure, the speaker last night informed us of a document comparing Republican and Democratic platforms.  This is NOT written by Catholics.  These are the actual platforms of each party. It's on the web for everyone to see and understand what each party stands for. Here is a link to the comparisons:


http://www.politicalresponsibility.com/comparison_side1.pdf
http://www.politicalresponsibility.com/comparison_side2.pdf

When reading today's Gospel (John 17:11b-19) think about the documents in the above links. Evil is prevalent in our society.  As Christians, Jesus is our armor to fight for what is right . . . sanctity of life. Below, Jesus is praying for our protection to His Father in heaven:


I gave them your word, and the world hated them, because they do not belong to the world any more than I belong to the world. I do not ask that you take them out of the world but that you keep them from the Evil One.
Do the right thing, fellow lay apostles.  Stand up for what you know is right.  Stand up for Jesus.

In Anne a lay apostle's book The Mist of Mercy, she gets right to the point when it comes to accountability:

"The enemy tells God that we, who were created to develop in the image and likeness of God, have developed into the image and likeness of God’s enemy instead. Imagine God’s pain. Let political leaders and all Christians be warned. You cannot be friends with Jesus Christ and accept abortion. The truth will emerge and each soul will be accountable."

There are approximately 1.21 million abortions performed in the U.S. every year according to AGI (http://www.abort73.com/abortion_facts/us_abortion_statistics/). And, 42 million worldwide! That means billions of hurting women (and men), most not ready to admit what they did was wrong. It's too painful. So they become pro-choice as a way of dealing with the shame.  How do I know this?  Because I was one of those women when I was 18.  Somehow being pro-choice made me feel what I did wasn't so bad.  It took going to Confession after 25 years of thinking I didn't need it to make me realize admitting my mistake gave me the freedom from my past I had been searching for. We all make mistakes.  Sometimes grave mistakes. But believe me, once you come to grips with what you've done, lean on our Savior for strength and courage.  He has so much love for His lost souls. Go to Him. He is waiting to heal you.  

Thank you, Lord, for giving me the strength and courage to speak up about my past. I pray it leads other hurting women (and men) to You and Your Mercy.  I promise to remain politically involved and fight for our religious freedom.  Although, I won't be staying current via the TV news! 

God bless,
Bonnie

Tuesday, May 22, 2012

Everything I Have To Give

Last year my oldest daughter posted an article on her Facebook page called "Why Chinese Mothers Are Superior" from WSJ (Chua, 2011).  She tagged me in it saying she never knew I was part Chinese.  To say the least, I was strict.  But, slightly more flexible than the Chinese mothers described. I did let them have sleepovers . . . they are lucky this article didn't come out while still under my roof! 


As a mother, I always want what's best for my children. I want them to be faithful, safe, happy and successful.  There is no sacrifice too daunting. I am their biggest cheerleader and the dreaded voice of reason. I am not afraid to tell them the truth, even when I know it's not what they want to hear. And this doesn't stop because my girls are adults now.  If I don't continue imparting wisdom to my children throughout their lives, who do you think will?  The media? Movie stars?  Being a parent requires everything I have to give. And I give it freely for my girls. Always have, always will.  One thing is certain . . . the blood, sweat and tears we sacrifice for our children should also be the blood, sweat and tears we sacrifice for Jesus.  


In contemplating todays Gospel (Acts 20:17-27), St. Paul sums up how our time here on earth should be spent:


From Miletus Paul had the presbyters of the Church at Ephesus summoned. When they came to him, he addressed them, "You know how I lived among you the whole time from the day I first came to the province of Asia. I served the Lord with all humility and with the tears and trials that came to me because of the plots of the Jews, and I did not at all shrink from telling you what was for your benefit, or from teaching you in public or in your homes. I earnestly bore witness for both Jews and Greeks to repentance before God and to faith in our Lord Jesus. But now, compelled by the Spirit, I am going to Jerusalem. What will happen to me there I do not know, except that in one city after another the Holy Spirit has been warning me that imprisonment and hardships await me. Yet I consider life of no importance to me, if only I may finish my course and the ministry that I received from the Lord Jesus, to bear witness to the Gospel of God's grace.


In Anne a lay apostle’s book Lessons in Love, she speaks of necessary sacrifices which lead us to our Savior:

“God is all love so He can only love, but we, as His apostles, provide for Jesus so many sources of grace obtained and drawn from our sacrifices and our efforts to align our wills to His. God draws from our holiness to convert others. It is all about love expressing itself in commitment and ongoing sacrifice to the commitment. We must be like Jesus, the Lover, who exhibits the perfect willingness to suffer for His beloved ones, even at the hands of those beloved ones. I am saying that we must be willing to accept hurt from others in order to preserve and further the bonds and teach others about love. An apostle must try to develop the following attitude toward those around him:

I am willing to accept your imperfect version of love in order to encourage you to keep trying and to teach you about love. I am willing to return heaven’s version of love, regardless of what you give to me in the way of love, so that you can see what pure love looks like. This is what Jesus does for me and as such I must become more and more willing to do this for others.

This returning of pure love for imperfect love, will, with God’s grace and even the smallest measure of good will in others, gradually elevate our relationships higher and higher until our relationships begin to more closely resemble the relationships between the saints in heaven. What a wonderful goal for us all.”

Lay apostles, take an extra step toward Jesus.  Don't have time to pray the Rosary today?  Take 5 minutes and pray one decade.  Usually forget to give thanks before placing any food in your mouth?  Remember today.  Not attending Mass every Sunday?  Start attending. Jesus is fully aware we cannot become saints overnight.  Give Him everything you have to give . . . starting now. 


Thank you, Lord, for showing me that being a good parent directly correlates with being a good Christian.  Help me continue to love and guide my children, grandchildren, and all those You place in my life directly to Your Sacred Heart.


God bless,
Bonnie


Link to the article mentioned above: http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052748704111504576059713528698754.html

Monday, May 21, 2012

Promises Are Promises

Promises in the Bible were taken very seriously by my mother.  Especially this one (from James1:27): Religion that is pure and undefiled before God and the Father is this: to care for orphans and widows in their affliction and to keep oneself unstained by the world.  Mom always took refuge in that verse as she and her brothers were orphaned by their mother at a very young age.  And, a year after their mother disappeared, they were taken away from their father and actually put in an orphanage.  You can imagine the comfort this verse provided through the years after such a traumatic childhood.  Today's responsorial psalm (Psalm 68:6 Father of the fatherless, defender of widows . . .) brought back memories of Mom quoting this verse quite often.  And, made me smile remembering what she said after my father passed away. She had no doubt she was going straight to heaven because of her suffering as a child.  But when Dad died, well, she was now an orphan and a widow.  Doubly protected.  After all, promises are promises, right?  Despite her lifelong fight with mental illness, her faith reigned supreme to the end. 

The Gospel today (John 16:29-33) shows Jesus speaking to His disciples of promises:

The disciples said to Jesus, "Now you are talking plainly, and not in any figure of speech. Now we realize that you know everything and that you do not need to have anyone question you. Because of this we believe that you came from God." Jesus answered them, "Do you believe now? Behold, the hour is coming and has arrived when each of you will be scattered to his own home and you will leave me alone. But I am not alone, because the Father is with me. I have told you this so that you might have peace in me. In the world you will have trouble, but take courage, I have conquered the world."


Lay apostles, Jesus tells us to take courage.  So why wouldn't we?  We say we are Christians which means we believe in the promises of Christ.  We must be courageous while we wait in exile here on earth.  Jesus speaks of the trouble the world will surely bestow upon us.  We are to expect it and not get derailed.  This is not an easy request but with His help, and His promises, we can continue climbing the mountain of holiness toward heaven. 


In the December 2009 Monthly Message, Jesus clarifies His promises:

“I promise you that I will be with you and that the outcomes occurring around you will be consistent with My will. I cannot promise you that in your humanity you will always rejoice in My will, especially when there is pain. But I can promise you that the greatest amount of mercy will be obtained through your commitment to remaining with Me, united in the life that is yours. All is well. I am with you.”

And, in the July 2007 Monthly Message:

"Think often on the promises I have made to you. I have said I will never leave you. I have said I will protect My interests in your soul. I have said I will pursue conversion of your loved ones. During this time, I want each apostle to consider these promises. Serve Me in steadiness, of course, but also, serve Me in peace. Dear apostles, you are connected to Me. You accept My love. You know that just as I cherish you, I cherish all others. My dear friends, please live these truths because others are looking to you for example. Please. Give an example of joyful trust. I need this from you so that I can draw hurting souls back to Me. I am with you. I will help you to do this."

As my mother fully believed in the promises of Christ, I too believe.  I see His promises coming to fruition at times right before my own eyes.  Rely on Him to do what He promises. Who else can you trust more than Jesus?

Thank you, Lord, for Your promises to me and all Your children.  Help me to continue to believe with all my heart and soul in those promises, never doubting Your Will.  

God bless,
Bonnie










Saturday, May 19, 2012

Pain Today, Gone Tomorrow

About three weeks before my daughter gave birth to my grandson, she frantically called me one night worried she might be in labor.  I asked all the appropriate questions a nurse would ask . . . what did the pain feel like, how long did it last, etc. Her answers?  It was a sharp pain in her lower abdomen which lasted a few seconds.  It was so intense it doubled her over, but it only occurred once.  When I assured her she wasn't in labor, she painstakingly inquired, "labor can't worse than this, right?" (I see all you moms smiling right now).  My response to her? "Do you want me to tell you the truth or lie?"  How do you describe the pain of childbirth?  It's unimaginable until you experience it.  Natural childbirth is rough and my daughter has a very low pain tolerance.  All I could tell her was that once he was out, she would immediately forget the pain (of course, this was after I told her to take the pain she just experienced, multiply it by 1,000, and it lasting for many hours).  She endured a very long labor (thank you Lord for epidurals) like a champ.  And when they placed him in her arms, labor pain became a distant memory. Well, at least the labor pain part of it . . . she had not anticipated the healing needed when pushing an 8 lb baby out! I love you, Mal! ;-)


Friday's Gospel (John 16:20-23) immediately made me think of my own babies coming into this world!  Labor does resemble Christianity.  It can be rough, painful, and exhausting, but the end result is joy.  Jesus is so worth the pain and suffering here on earth.  Imagine the joy when we are face to Face with Him! 
Jesus said to his disciples: "Amen, amen, I say to you, you will weep and mourn,
while the world rejoices; you will grieve, but your grief will become joy. When a woman is in labor, she is in anguish because her hour has arrived; but when she has given birth to a child, she no longer remembers the pain because of her joy that a child has been born into the world. So you also are now in anguish. But I will see you again, and your hearts will rejoice, and no one will take your joy away from you. On that day you will not question me about anything. Amen, amen, I say to you, whatever you ask the Father in my name he will give you."


In Volume Two, the Eucharistic Heart of Jesus, He encourages us to pray when we are tired of laboring:



"When you meet Me face to face, you will see clearly every happiness you have caused Me. I need you and so appreciate any fidelity offered to Me. If only for the sake of repayment you should come to Me often, as I reward each prayer, each glance, each petition even, beyond anything you might imagine. Please do not worry if you do not feel like you think you should feel. My child, how does a saint feel when that saint is laboring on earth? Very often, My saintly souls feel tired. They feel tired because they are laboring. But they also feel determined and these saintly souls come back to Me in prayer, even though they do not feel holy every moment. Do not let your feelings dictate your prayer time. Imagine a marriage where the two people only served each other in times of romantic love. I need not tell you that the marriage would be doomed. It is the very same with your relationship to Me. Serve Me always, regardless of how you feel."



Lay apostles, remember this quote from the Gospel today.  Remember it when life becomes challenging and your labor exhausting.  Read Volume Two.  If you've read it, read it again. If you haven't, click on the link to the right which says "The Volumes - downloadable online." Jesus is offering His true followers all sorts of solace for this life.  How you respond to His guidance and support is up to you.  Me?  I know He keeps all His promises. I believe Him, so I serve Him.


Thank you, Lord, for allowing me to labor not only for my children, but for You.  The hard times draw me closer to You where I belong. 


God bless,
Bonnie

Thursday, May 17, 2012

Where You Lead Me

Anyone who knows me well will attest to the fact this apostolate drastically changed my life.  Once I committed to live as a Lay Apostle of Jesus Christ the Returning King, everything began to make sense.  Reading the words of Jesus and all of heaven ignited a passion for my faith never experienced before.  My eyes began to focus on heaven, not the world. I started becoming more tolerant, calmer, and less judgmental . . . a softer version of myself. Introverted person that I am (just kidding!), I was on fire and wanted EVERYONE to feel the same burning desire of intimately knowing our Savior!  Many were receptive.  But some weren't ready. At first I felt offended when I would discover a person I gave a Volume to hadn't even picked it up months later.  How could anyone not want to know Jesus better? It took me a while to grasp the fact Jesus is in control and all I have to do is plant the seed.   


Todays reading (Acts18:1-8) is a perfect example of planting the seed and moving on, trusting Christ will lead you to where He needs you:


When Silas and Timothy came down from Macedonia, Paul began to occupy himself totally with preaching the word, testifying to the Jews that the Christ was Jesus. When they opposed him and reviled him, he shook out his garments and said to them, “Your blood be on your heads! I am clear of responsibility.  From now on I will go to the Gentiles.” So he left there and went to a house belonging to a man named Titus Justus, a worshiper of God; his house was next to a synagogue. Crispus, the synagogue official, came to believe in the Lord along with his entire household, and many of the Corinthians who heard believed and were baptized.
Volume Ten, as Dr. Mark Miravalle calls it, is the “rescue manual” for lay apostles. In the following quote from this Volume, Jesus advises us to let Him take the lead: 

“From now on, I will think of you as My apostles. As I prepared My original apostles to begin My beautiful Church on earth, I now commission you to reclaim My beautiful Church. You have such great heavenly assistance. When I speak of My Church, I am speaking of the body of the Church, comprised of its people. You are to call them back to the safety of the family of God. I send you out as I sent out the first group. You are to speak freely of Me. If a soul rejects Me, hold no malice for that soul. Simply pray for them and move along, seeking out another. Often you are like a farmer sowing seeds. I, Myself, must reap the harvest. This should not concern you because to insist on reaping what you have sown in this instance is not appropriate. Sometimes God is needed to ignite the divine.”

Lay apostles, continue to plant the seed of Christ's Love for all His children.  Some may not be ready to take the blinders off.  So pray for them, move on and let Jesus have the responsibility of leading them home.

Thank you, Lord, for showing me how to let go and let You lead.  My control freak days are dwindling the more I defer to You!

God bless,
Bonnie

Wednesday, May 16, 2012

There's A Reason

Four daughters, a challenging wife, a station wagon, and summer vacation . . . what's a father to do?  My father's answer? Pile everyone in the car and start driving. Childhood adventures with my family usually took place in our home state of Florida.  There was the Ringling Museum in Sarasota where one of my sisters participated in a clown school; beautiful sandy beaches with turquoise waves splashing around our feet; trips to NASA in Cocoa Beach to see shuttle launches; and, many trips to DisneyWorld.  But one place stands out as I reminisce about the good times, Spook Hill.  I'm not sure if it was an accidental discovery on one of our road trips, but it was sure memorable.  Spook Hill awaits thrill seekers in Lake Wales, Florida, even to this day.  The optical illusion begins as you put your car in neutral and gravity pulls your car uphill.  Now, as a kid, this was very exciting! But also a bit frightening as you imagine spirits manipulating your vehicle. My father, comic that he was, exaggerated his reaction to the phenomena after reading the legend of Spook Hill (http://www.lakewaleschamber.com/index.phpoption=com_content&view=article&id=9&Itemid=30) on the sign right before the white line where you shift into neutral and begin the eerie uphill climb.  With childlike innocence, I believed my father as I watched out the back window of the car!  


In todays first reading (Acts 17:15, 22-18:1) Paul is preaching the Good News to the Athenians, who all seem to be believers . . .until he speaks of the Resurrection: 


Since therefore we are the offspring of God, we ought not to think that the divinity is like an image fashioned from gold, silver, or stone by human art and imagination. God has overlooked the times of ignorance, but now he demands that all people everywhere repent because he has established a day on which he will 'judge the world with justice' through a man he has appointed, and he has provided confirmation for all by raising him from the dead."

When they heard about resurrection of the dead, some began to scoff, but others said, "We should like to hear you on this some other time." And so Paul left them. But some did join him, and became believers. 
As adults, we tend to "scoff" at things our mind assumes an impossibility.  We learn about gravity which jades our view of Spook Hill.  But Jesus walked the face of this earth.  He suffered, died and rose again. If you think about the Book of Acts and all the apostles endured, do you really believe these men would subject themselves to such torture and ridicule for nothing? Just as I believed in my father, our Creator wants us to believe in Him. 
In Volume Three, God the Father gently but firmly warns us of the importance of union with Him now:

“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. You must be disciplined if you are to remain on the path to salvation. And believe Me when I say that all other roads lead nowhere. My children belong with each other, loving Me. Hear My call of love, now, while I can offer you a soft and gentle transition to holiness. There is coming a time, as you have been told, when the transition will only be possible with violence. It will be a shock to you if you do not respond now. 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.”

Personally, I try not to ignore the signs.  When I begin to feel frightened, I focus on Him.  He pulls me through even the most devastating circumstances.  Lay apostles, read and reread Scripture, the Volumes, and anything else you can get your hands on to draw you closer to Christ. Instead of being uncomfortable and frightened, choose pure childlike belief in God. He will never lead you astray.
Thank you, Lord, for continuing to pry my eyes off the world always bringing them back to You. Help me to remember the feeling complete trust in You brings because it's glorious!
God bless,
Bonnie 


Tuesday, May 15, 2012

Stairway to Heaven

One of the best songs ever written for slow dancing is Stairway to Heaven by Led Zeppelin.  I think the original is around eight minutes long.  Back in high school, dancing to this song was one of two things . . . absolute heaven or complete torture.  It all depended on who asked you to dance and I was the kind of girl who hated to offend any one. In the arms of your high school crush, those eight minutes seemed to fly by.  In the arms of the wrong guy, that song dragged on for what seemed like hours.  During those tortuous eight minutes, you see your girlfriends teasing you from the sidelines making kissy faces, lightening your mood and allowing you to focus on the playful chiding you will receive from them after. Saving graces.


Todays first reading (Acts 16:22-34) made me a little emotional.  No matter how much the apostles were tortured, their steadfast faith in Jesus propelled them forward in leading others to His saving grace:



The crowd in Philippi joined in the attack on Paul and Silas, and the magistrates had them stripped and ordered them to be beaten with rods. After inflicting many blows on them, they threw them into prison and instructed the jailer to guard them securely. When he received these instructions, he put them in the innermost cell and secured their feet to a stake.

About midnight, while Paul and Silas were praying and singing hymns to God as the prisoners listened, there was suddenly such a severe earthquake that the foundations of the jail shook; all the doors flew open, and the chains of all were pulled loose. When the jailer woke up and saw the prison doors wide open, he drew his sword and was about to kill himself, thinking that the prisoners had escaped. But Paul shouted out in a loud voice, "Do no harm to yourself; we are all here." He asked for a light and rushed in and, trembling with fear, he fell down before Paul and Silas. Then he brought them out and said, "Sirs, what must I do to be saved?" And they said, "Believe in the Lord Jesus and you and your household will be saved." So they spoke the word of the Lord to him and to everyone in his house. He took them in at that hour of the night and bathed their wounds; then he and all his family were baptized at once. He brought them up into his house and provided a meal and with his household rejoiced at having come to faith in God.
The Book of Acts is like an action adventure movie, isn't it?  When I finished the reading today, I was struck by how much and how often the Apostles were physically tortured. And yet they persevered.  Such incredible strength and courage to save others for Christ.
In Volume One, Jesus assures us that through our service to Him, we can also contribute to saving others as the Apostles did:

“Be counted as a follower of Christ during these times and you will live forever in the love that surrounds Me. You may say fearfully, “Lord, what can I do? I am only one person.” Remember that there is no price for one soul. If one soul is worth dying for, and this is the truth, then how important is it that you respond to Me wholeheartedly so that I can save many through you? Truly, the graces at your disposal are countless. Your “yes” to Me today unleashes all manner of graces and sets into motion the saving of many souls who are being called from the darkness, now, as I am calling you. I am looking for quietness. I am looking for a calm defense of God. I am looking for consistent service and prayer. I am not calling you from the world. It is I who put you in the world, little children, and I intend to use you right where I have placed you.”


Lay apostles, what are you suffering from today?  No matter what it is, offer it up for the saving of souls.  Unite your suffering to Christ and the Apostles.  Look what their suffering brought to us today in 2012 . . . our salvation.


Thank you, Lord, for teaching me the courage and strength Your apostles possessed in order to save others.  Help me to continue building steps for my stairway to heaven!


God bless,
Bonnie



Monday, May 14, 2012

Stand Up and Be Quiet

Sometimes I can have the best intentions, and the wrong words come out of my mouth.  Well, wrong for the intended party.  Remembering everybody's faith journey is not always where mine is escapes my aging brain at times. Words which provide comfort to me can easily be disregarded by others as hogwash, or, something they haven't experienced and therefore don't understand. It can be so frustrating trying to do the right thing with an unintended outcome. This is not unique to me.  Here is a piece of the Gospel (John 15:18-21) from Saturday: 
Jesus said to his disciples: "If the world hates you, realize that it hated me first. If you belonged to the world, the world would love its own; but because you do not belong to the world, and I have chosen you out of the world, the world hates you. Remember the word I spoke to you, 'No slave is greater than his master.' If they persecuted me, they will also persecute you. If they kept my word, they will also keep yours. And they will do all these things to you on account of my name, because they do not know the one who sent me."
Words to live by and survive on a daily basis!  In todays first reading (Acts 1:15-17, 20-26) the apostles are looking for the 12th to replace Judas. They had narrowed it down to two men.  I couldn't help but think about how Justus felt after the lots were cast:
Therefore, it is necessary that one of the men who accompanied us the whole time the Lord Jesus came and went among us, beginning from the baptism of John until the day on which he was taken up from us, become with us a witness to his resurrection." So they proposed two, Joseph called Barsabbas, who was also known as Justus, and Matthias. Then they prayed, "You, Lord, who know the hearts of all, show which one of these two you have chosen to take the place in this apostolic ministry from which Judas turned away to go to his own place." Then they gave lots to them, and the lot fell upon Matthias, and he was counted with the Eleven Apostles.
I imagine two different scenarios going on in Justus' mind after Matthias was chosen.  First, he could have been thinking, "Gosh!  I followed Jesus the entire time Matthias did.  What did I do wrong?  Why am I not the chosen one?" Then he would proceed to proclaim to the others his good deeds.  Second scenario, "Thank you, Lord, for choosing Matthias as he is a good man.  I am honored I was even considered for the job.  I will humbly continue to praise Your name."  I think he stood up and was quiet.  What do you think?
In the March 2011 Monthly Message, Jesus describes how to stand up and be quiet for Him:

“The Spirit within you directs you to quiet, even in the midst of what might necessarily be a busy life. If you work from Me, you will retain your peace in activity and interaction with others because you will be giving and receiving Me. When you are with someone who is unable to accept My love, My love will surround that person until that person can receive it and you will not have wasted love because My love blesses you even as it moves through you. By working from Me, you are disciplining yourself to remain peaceful because I am peace. I am calm. I am love. How often I ask you to provide the world with a contrast and it is in remaining peaceful that you will do so. Be alert to My presence and you will spread peace.”

Today, lay apostles, stand up for Jesus humbly.  Speak His words with love and calm.  For only our Savior knows your true intent and He will use those good intentions to His benefit.

Thank you, Lord, for the continued lessons in humility and grace.  I think I'm finally getting the hang of it!

God bless,
Bonnie








Friday, May 11, 2012

Love One Another

Last night I received a call from an elderly Irish gentleman from my prayer group. He hadn't shown up this past Tuesday night, so I assumed he was calling about that.  I let the call go to voicemail.  He is quite the talker, very opinionated (hmmm . . . you can imagine the discussions he and I have gotten into!), and I wasn't in a talkative mood.  Around 10:30pm it was time to hit the sack.  I saw my phone's message light blinking and remembered he had called.  In a lovely Irish accent, he said he needed to speak with me and it was very important. At the end of the extensive message, he added he would be up until midnight. My first instinct was to call back in the morning. But then I remembered my blog post from yesterday about loving those who are hard to love. At 10:45pm, I found myself dialing his number. 


He had some questions about the mission and Anne which I gratefully answered to his satisfaction.  And then, in his typical fashion, he began to discuss the state of the world and purgatory.  Interesting combination, right?  By the time he was done wrapping up his thoughts, I glanced at the clock.  Eleven-thirty.  Just as we were about to part ways, he said, "Before we go, let's say the three big ones."  We proceeded to say the Our Father, Hail Mary and Glory Be.  I hung up the phone with a smile on my face.  You never know who Jesus will place in your life at any given moment.  Don't waste any opportunities to love He sends your way.


In todays Gospel (John 15:12-17), Jesus commands us to love:



Jesus said to his disciples: "This is my commandment: love one another as I love you. No one has greater love than this, to lay down one's life for one's friends. You are my friends if you do what I command you. I no longer call you slaves, because a slave does not know what his master is doing. I have called you friends, because I have told you everything I have heard from my Father. It was not you who chose me, but I who chose you and appointed you to go and bear fruit that will remain, so that whatever you ask the Father in my name he may give you. This I command you: love one another."
This Gospel says it all.  He has chosen us. Think about that for a minute.  Then thank whoever was responsible for giving you the gift that keeps on giving . . . your faith in Jesus Christ!
In Anne a lay apostle’s book Lessons in Love, she further defines the importance of loving others:

“We are then expected, as Christians, to bring our knowledge of love into the world. It becomes a little more difficult out in the world because love is more likely to be misunderstood or rejected. Still, our obligation remains. Jesus told us to love one another. He did not say love one another and make sure others love you back.”

Lay apostles, it is difficult when you give love with nothing in return. But I have to admit, when this has occurred and I love unconditionally, it feels really good.  Abandon your expectations of how others should act and feel.  Give of yourself knowing you are loving as Jesus did. And, Jesus is loving through you.

Thank you, Lord, for Your commandments of love.  Please continue to teach me how to see others as You do.

God bless,
Bonnie