Sunday, June 29, 2014

Inadequate Recognition

Note: Last night I accidentally hit "Publish" instead of "Save," so some of you may have received an incomplete blog post!  Thanks to my daughter Mallorie for making sure I knew it went out!

I tried to give my daughters good advice in their teenage years, attempting to steer them in the direction of making good choices. I gave them a faith life and love for Jesus, trying to help them understand Jesus = good choices.  I saw many eyes being rolled, told I didn't understand the situation, or blank stares glaring at me,  knowing they were probably planning what they were going to wear to school the next day! I knew eventually they would all come around, thanking me for such wisdom when they were growing up. Boy, if that isn't inadequate recognition for the graces of My Lord and Savior! I am forever thankful this mission put me in the right frame of mind . . . I am nothing without Christ! 

In todays Gospel (Matthew 8:18-22), Jesus teaches us to put Him above all else:


When Jesus saw a crowd around him, he gave orders to cross to the other shore. A scribe approached and said to him, “Teacher, I will follow you wherever you go.” Jesus answered him, “Foxes have dens and birds of the sky have nests, but the Son of Man has nowhere to rest his head.” Another of his disciples said to him, “Lord, let me go first and bury my father.”
But Jesus answered him, “Follow me, and let the dead bury their dead.”


In Anne a lay apostle's book Lessons in Love, she inspires us to recognize God's Love is endless:



"There will always be those in our lives who give us the feeling that we are trying to love a cactus plant. If we get too close, we get hurt. Jesus experiences this, too, of course, with each one of us to different degrees at different times in our lives. The Lover, Jesus Christ, feels the pain of His beloved acutely, suffering with us the pains of our humanity. How baffling for Him, humanly speaking, to be rejected, and yet how patiently He awaits acceptance. His whole presence in each relationship could be viewed, among many other things, as a study in patience. We, the beloved ones, entertain so rarely the truth of the constant gaze of love that follows our every breath. This is perhaps a blessing because when the strength of the Lover’s gaze is remotely understood, the beloved one can feel helplessly inadequate in the love equation. How can one return such pure love? How can one measure up, protecting the pristine nature of the exchange? Clearly, without grace, one would simply drift away, such would be the hopelessness of the situation. To protect the relationship, Christ infuses into His beloved puffs of pure love through an action of the Holy Spirit. There is no limit to the amount of growth possible in love, even while we remain on earth."  

Lay apostles, the minute you begin to think any good produced by your actions is a pat on your back, stop and thank Jesus for the graces He allowed to flow through you to others. Ego is a difficult beast to tame, but once you acknowledge it and see it for what it is, you will begin to give Jesus the recognition He is so deserving of. 

Thank you, Lord, for keeping my ego in check at all times. Please continue to nudge me in the right direction when it starts to peek its ugly head!

God bless,
Bonnie

Friday, June 27, 2014

Review of Can You Text Me Directions?

Jesus knows exactly who He  this book is meant for:

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful
By Adam
Is this the spiritual compass I've been searching for to find direction for my life? Is Jesus really alive? It seems so! I was surprised to discover that Jesus is still speaking today through the lives of students like me from different countries, each witnessing to the power of his words for our times received by a woman in Ireland. For example, I found myself smiling through tears, as I read Nabil's moving story of his encounter as a Coptic Catholic student with a Salafi Muslim on the train from his Nile village in Upper Egypt to Cairo....

I liked the fact that I could read this fresh presentation of personal testimonies in only an hour, though next time, I'd probably choose to read its 30 brief chapters more slowly as a month's meditations.

Recommended for young people as well as for anyone interested in spirituality today.

Thank you, Jesus Christ the Returning King!

God bless,
Bonnie

The Easy Button . . . Look No Further

The first time I saw the Staples commercial with the "Easy" button, I wanted to be the first in line to purchase it! Who doesn't want an Easy button? As time has passed, I realize there actually is an Easy button . . . it's Jesus Christ! Not that we won't suffer with Him, but without Him, the suffering is far worse.

Todays Gospel (Matthew 11:25-30) teaches us that relying on Jesus is all the comfort we need:

At that time Jesus exclaimed: "I give praise to you, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, for although you have hidden these things from the wise and the learned you have revealed them to little ones. Yes, Father, such has been your gracious will. All things have been handed over to me by my Father.  No one knows the Son except the Father, and no one knows the Father except the Son and anyone to whom the Son wishes to reveal him.

"Come to me, all you who labor and are burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am meek and humble of heart; and you will find rest for yourselves.  For my yoke is easy, and my burden light."


In Volume One, Anne a lay apostle shares with us the importance of service to Christ on days we just don't feel like serving:


"This day is beginning with sickness and pain, but a light spirit. How joyful is the service of our God. Truly, His yoke is easy and His burden is light in that the closer you get, the greater your desire to serve. Indeed, the lightness of spirit is present in our Lord’s service and prayer restores the buoyancy of the soul so that one proceeds joyfully. I am not cut out for martyrdom. I don’t mind complaining when necessary. But Jesus makes you smile. So it would be fakery to have a sad face because you are sick. Such courage is required to begin a day at times, when you feel sick. But when you have practiced depending on Jesus, you get better at it. You then have the courage to begin difficult days or tasks because your experience assures you that Jesus will be not only walking with you, but sharing and sometimes completely shouldering the weight of your cross. Every morning you must wake and think, God has work for me. There is something terribly important I must do today for Him. I have been placed here particularly for this day and these tasks. This morning, feeling cheerfully ill, I said, “Lord, I might not get much accomplished today.”  He replied: “Slow down. Work steadily. Yesterday you accomplished a great deal, but today you will accomplish much more important work. Sometimes your tasks have to do more with loving. You could remain in bed all day but have loved much and achieved greater things than on a day when you ran from one task to another with a rapidly beating heart. My creatures were meant to move steadily. The world seems to be demanding that you move quickly. Refuse this gambit by the evil one. If you are forced to move frantically through your days, that is a sign that I want your life to change. This is important, dear souls. Be advised. I want your life to move more slowly. I want you to be recollected with Me through your day. Every day, always."

Lay apostles, today, let's all make life easy today . . . no matter your situation, take a minute to include Jesus in your frustration, difficulty or pain. Let Him comfort you. Read from the Bible or Volumes. He has so much to say!

Thank you, Lord, for taking my life and making it easier. If I would have known relying on You would be this blessed, I would have done it a long time ago! 

God bless,
Bonnie

Thursday, June 26, 2014

In Lieu of Anger

Old triggers . . . something I thought I would never separate from. But I have (for the most part!). I am convinced Jesus has been working on this hurdle with me since I first read Volume One back in 2006. After 8 years of being immersed in this mission, I am happy to say He has finally broken through the barrier. The other day someone called me with information which, in the past, would have triggered an outburst of insecurity. But instead, I found myself calm, looking past the message of the caller. In lieu of anger, I was presented with an opportunity to pray for His Strength and Guidance. When Jesus is in your heart, I mean really in your heart, it is so much easier to live a peaceful life.  

Todays Gospel (Matthew 7:21-29) is quite blunt . . . actions speak louder than words:

Jesus said to his disciples: “Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the Kingdom of heaven, but only the one who does the will of my Father in heaven. Many will say to me on that day, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name? Did we not drive out demons in your name? Did we not do mighty deeds in your name?’ Then I will declare to them solemnly, ‘I never knew you. Depart from me, you evildoers.’

“Everyone who listens to these words of mine and acts on them will be like a wise man who built his house on rock. The rain fell, the floods came, and the winds blew and buffeted the house. But it did not collapse; it had been set solidly on rock. And everyone who listens to these words of mine but does not act on them will be like a fool who built his house on sand.
The rain fell, the floods came, and the winds blew and buffeted the house. And it collapsed and was completely ruined.”

When Jesus finished these words, the crowds were astonished at his teaching, for he taught them as one having authority, and not as their scribes.


In Anne a lay apostle's book Lesson in Love, she teaches us that only we as individuals can soothe the ache of our absence in Our Heavenly Father's heart:



"The Father’s total devotion to each one of us is actively expressed in the presence of Jesus Christ. Jesus Christ crucified in the timelessness or the eternal present that is truth, longs for comfort from each one of us personally. The hunger of the Lover for the beloved can only be satisfied by one person, that is, the beloved. It is not possible for any one or any thing to provide the consolation that can quench the thirst poor Jesus crucified feels for each one of us. God, in His pure love, desires a love response from each of us in this way. Imagine the Lord’s painful longing on the cross. Because of this true bond of intimacy, between the Creator and the created, God is vulnerable to being wounded in the person of Jesus Christ. The longing He feels for each one of us insures that He feels a painful craving for, as an example, my love. My love and devotion will satisfy His longing for me, but it will not satisfy His hunger for the reader’s love. I am saying that our devotion to Him will console Him in His pain, but nothing can replace His ache for each individual and this is why the vertical relationship between Jesus Christ and each person is irreplaceable and unrepeatable. 

Once I prayed to St. Therese and told her that I loved her. She began to speak and said, 'I love you, too, Anne, and we are all linked together because the love of God is such a force that it fills us all in heaven and flows out through us and between us and through us also to each person on earth. Our brothers and sisters on earth, meaning the Church militant, experience the same thing, albeit imperfectly because of their remaining humanity, but it is God’s love and the reciprocal response of love for God which bonds us together.' Yes, only the beloved can ease the terrible ache and pain Jesus feels. Even the smallest glance of love from us, the Lord’s beloved, can provide relief, joy and intimacy for Him. We must never underestimate our power to console and comfort the Divine Victim. Once the Lover claims the heart of His beloved, meaning each one of us, He can rest in the commitment of His beloved and in that relative security He can then see about other affairs through us and together with us, proceeding, as it were, from the solid foundation that is the bond. The two, Jesus and the individual, proceed as one." 

Lay apostles, do you perceive each threat or attempt to disrupt your peace by another a chance to rely on Christ? Or, do you blow up repeating old habits of reacting to triggers? It is not a quick process, but with Jesus by our side at all times, we can change. So, if something triggers an old wound today, be calm and ask Jesus to send some graces to help you through it. He will never fail you.

Thank you, Lord, for the work You have done in my heart and soul. And, thanks for all Your Patience while I got here!

God bless,
Bonnie

Wednesday, June 25, 2014

Good Fruit vs. Bad Fruit

Anne a lay apostle talks about dualistic thinking. Justin Sofio, a young lay apostle working for the mission, wrote the following after Anne's talk at a prison:

"So many of the prisoners have had people label them as 'bad.' We watched a look of relief come over them as Anne explained the danger of dualistic thinking and how this is not what Jesus wants from us. Dualistic thinking is the idea that people are either all bad or all good. The truth is we each do bad things and we each do good things and we are all somewhere in the middle. It is inaccurate and unfair to label someone as all good or all bad." 

What are you producing today, lay apostles? Good fruit to grow closer to Christ by shining His Light to others? Or bad fruit of judgement, hatred and violence? 

Todays Gospel (Matthew 7:15-20) asks us to look at the outcome of any situation and you will determine if it is good or bad very easily:

Jesus said to his disciples: “Beware of false prophets, who come to you in sheep’s clothing,
but underneath are ravenous wolves. By their fruits you will know them. Do people pick grapes from thornbushes, or figs from thistles? Just so, every good tree bears good fruit,
and a rotten tree bears bad fruit. A good tree cannot bear bad fruit, nor can a rotten tree bear good fruit. Every tree that does not bear good fruit will be cut down and thrown into the fire.
So by their fruits you will know them.”


In Heaven Speaks About Addictions, St. Barnabas gives us a message about worshipping false gods (our addictions). The following quote is from our reading in Climbing the Mountain this morning and although quite long (but so worth the read), fits perfectly with todays Gospel: 

"My dear friend, notice that Jesus calls you His apostle. He is asking you to serve Him. Do not make the mistake of thinking that He is talking to someone else. He is talking to you. There is work for you in the Kingdom. You have suffered, it is true. We all suffer during our time on earth. But Jesus can heal any wounds. You are trying to heal yourself. You are trying to make yourself feel better. But you cannot do this alone and the healing you are offering your body and soul is making you sicker. I have the true healing, the true peace. I am Barnabas and I want to help you too. It can be difficult to make a decision to step away from your addictions. I understand. The enemy convinces you that you need these things to be happy. And yet, you are not happy. Be honest with yourself for a moment and hear me. You are not at peace if you are attached to something so much that you need it, unless it is God. I am referring generally to things that you are putting in your body, but any habit can become destructive if it takes you from your duties or separates you from purity or holiness. Some of these things are fine in moderation, perhaps, but in excess they begin to take over. These things, these addictions, once they hold you, do not let you go until you make a firm decision to stop completely. Only then can heaven remove their power over you and free your soul. My friend, you object in your heart. You hold this addiction close to you and would like me to be wrong. This alone tells you that there is a problem. I am not wrong. I am looking from the heavenly perspective and I assure you, I am correct when I tell you that Jesus wants to free you. 

Jesus wants you to view the world as He views the world. Only in this way will you serve Him as He needs you to serve. Only in this way will you see those around you with His eyes and correctly identify your role in their lives. If you have an addiction, you have acquired a bad thing, and that is tunnel vision. You see with the eyes of your addiction. You will serve, yes, but only in as much as it does not interfere with your addiction. Do you understand? The addiction begins to take the first place in your life, putting Jesus, and your vocation in the second. This tunnel vision gradually closes off the heavenly vision until, at the end, when the addiction rules you, you can see only it. You are then the servant to the addiction. The addiction is your master. And the addiction is not a benign master, seeking your welfare. The addiction is a cruel master eventually demanding everything from you. You will have to bring the addiction offerings of your dignity, your purity of intention, and perhaps
even your membership in the Body of Christ. 

Now, you say I am exaggerating. You cannot fool me because I know what you are thinking. I am one who understands addiction, having  suffered from it myself. You are not unique when you suffer from an addiction. We end up the same way. Compare the master that is your addiction to Jesus Christ. Jesus seeks only your welfare and the welfare of those around you. He asks you to serve in dignity, in goodness, in company with all of the just on earth and the saints in heaven. You are surrounded by heavenly beings in the form of angels who will assist you in each moment and in every situation. Jesus sends you His Spirit, Who enlightens you and gives you courage and strength. Jesus has prepared a place for you here in heaven. I can go to this place and see it because it is here. We do not tell lies. We deal only in the truth. I would like you to sit silently before Christ now in this spirit of truth and let Jesus tell you if your addiction is a problem. 

I want to tell you about the price you are paying to maintain this addiction as your friend. And that is how you view it, is it not? You think this addiction is a good thing for you, a consolation, and a compensation for the pain you have suffered. Let me state again, lest you have forgotten. Pain is a universal experience. Hurt is a universal experience. You are not alone in your pain and in your hurt. Do not think you are somehow entitled to this addiction
because you have suffered more than others. This would be false, a lie, and remember that heaven does not deal in lies. So where there is only truth, we must speak with clarity. Everyone on earth has been hurt or will be hurt and has felt pain or will feel pain. That makes you like everyone else. You are not entitled to use this addiction to dull your pain. It is wrong, a sin. To say that you are in special need of this earthly balm is making an excuse. It is also preventing you from dealing with your pain. And what happens when people do not deal directly with their pain? The enemy turns the pain to bitterness. In souls who allow Jesus to help, pain becomes wisdom and compassion. Pain is used for great spiritual growth. Do not listen to those who tell you that your addiction is acceptable because you suffer. These people are leading you away from Christ through flawed thinking. This is the thinking that leads souls to hell. I am not saying that you are going to hell. I am not saying that those who have died in their addictions are in hell. Jesus is all mercy. He is all goodness and forgiveness. He does not condemn a soul unless a soul insists on being condemned. But it is because of His very goodness and mercy that you should serve Him more completely and you cannot do that if you serve another master."  

Lay apostles, let's all serve Him today and produce some good fruit for the Kingdom! 

Thank you, Lord, for the opportunities You present every day to further Your Perfect Plan for each and every one of us on this earth! 

God bless,
Bonnie


Monday, June 23, 2014

Don't Judge, Just Love

Today is a special day for Jay and me. Two years ago I walked into a California Pizza Kitchen for a blind date set up by my long time dental hygenist (whose name happens to be Destiny!), never expecting I would finally learn what love truly is. Within the first 15 minutes, I was upfront with Jay about my past. I figured, if he didn't like who I was, it would be a nice lunch and we would go our separate ways. Jesus had other plans. Jay is one of the most nonjudgemental people I know. He looked at me with the eyes of Christ, not with worldly eyes. So, to the man of my dreams and huge gift from Jesus Christ the Returning King, I love you, Jay Crandall, to infinity and beyond (you know I had to throw in a little Buzz!)!!! 




In todays Gospel (Matthew 7:1-5), Jesus asks us to look within before we judge others:

Jesus said to his disciples: “Stop judging, that you may not be judged. For as you judge, so will you be judged, and the measure with which you measure will be measured out to you.
Why do you notice the splinter in your brother’s eye, but do not perceive the wooden beam in your own eye? How can you say to your brother, ‘Let me remove that splinter from your eye,’
while the wooden beam is in your eye? You hypocrite, remove the wooden beam from your eye first; then you will see clearly to remove the splinter from your brother’s eye.”


In Anne a lay apostle's book Serving in Clarity, she is spot on . . . examine our own behavior first:


"It is distressing to witness a spirit of pride and arrogance. We must always look for personal outrage as a marker for pride in ourselves. By this I do not refer to the outrage one feels regarding injustice done to others. This is appropriate. By this, the marker for pride, I refer to personal outrage associated with being treated less respectfully than we would like or being judged in a way that is less positive than we feel we deserve or desire. To clarify, we can go, as usual, to the Lord’s example. When people lied about Jesus personally or mistreated Him, He let it go, as in the Garden. He did not puff up and sputter in outrage. He was very consistent in behaving like a lamb. But when people planned to stone an adulteress, He stopped them. He exhibited a sense of outrage, turning the situation on its head and using it to promote non-judgmental treatment of others. Also, when He witnessed His Father’s house being used as a market place, He exhibited outrage, even reacting with just anger. Jesus quietly accepted personal insults and slights to Himself. He did not accept cruel behavior against people or blasphemous behavior against His Father. There are those who will say that to behave in obedience is to offer up our free will. This is true. This is what we are striving for, to offer up our free will to the Lord. It is only when we give up trying to be masters that we can become servants. We will not enter heaven with our hands on our hips, telling everyone else, least of all Christ, where they are getting it wrong." 

Lay apostles, lets all vow to leave the judging up to Jesus today. If we judge another, we will be judged by the same standards. I, for one, am far from perfect. I am a sinner. There is not one human being on this earth who has not sinned. Jesus knows us, and He knows EVERYTHING. So, before you become angry with the rude waitress, try to show her the Light of Christ by thanking her for serving you. Don't judge, just love.

Thank you, Lord, for teaching me to leave any judgment up to You! Please continue to remind me, when I start stumbling in that direction, You have it all under control!

God bless,
Bonnie


Friday, June 20, 2014

What Do You Treasure?

Life will always throw curve balls. We will all suffer at one time or another. This is to be expected. Every day God gives us on this earth, we have a choice. We can whine and complain, blaming others for the difficult circumstances we find ourselves facing. Or, we can take the blows while holding tightly to the Hand of God. Days can appear quite stormy and dark, but what about the beauty Our Heavenly Father supplies in a storm? The sound of rain on my window; the bright flashes of lightening; even loud, booming thunder (my mother always told us thunder was the angels bowling in heaven!). The world tells us we are poor if we don't live in a mansion, drive a fancy car, or wear designer clothing. To me, these are only treasures (to some) on earth. Many overlook the real treasures we have been blessed with . . . whether it's a loving husband, children, grandchildren, pets or _____ (you fill in the blank), remember these blessings when feeling ashamed, depressed, humiliated, scorned. The treasures we store up on earth materially will fade away some day. The love we gave follows us through eternity. 


Two of my treasures on earth! 

In todays Gospel (Matthew 6:19-23), Jesus is very clear about earthly possessions:

Jesus said to his disciples: “Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and decay destroy, and thieves break in and steal. But store up treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor decay destroys, nor thieves break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there also will your heart be.

“The lamp of the body is the eye. If your eye is sound, your whole body will be filled with light; but if your eye is bad, your whole body will be in darkness. And if the light in you is darkness, how great will the darkness be.”


In the Monthly Message of April 2008, Jesus teaches us the love we give in His Name on earth lives forever:


"I desire that each of you accept My love, which includes the love of all of heaven. Those who are lukewarm and do not accept my love cannot help Me in My goal of renewal. Those who are concerned with establishing their kingdoms on earth will lose opportunities to seed the renewal each day. Those who postpone a full commitment to My goals will find that they are sadly disappointed later, when they realize how important their service was to Me. I rely on My apostles to be passionate about service, seeking always to store up heavenly treasures in the souls of those around them. Truly, no kind word, no compassionate silence, no act of love is lost. Each of these is both used immediately and preserved eternally. I understand that you are tired at times. I understand that you become discouraged. I understand these things because in My humanity I experienced these things. I allow these feelings in My beloved apostles because their service to Me then becomes even more beneficial. Rest assured that you have been given all that you need in strength and courage for each day’s service." 

Lay apostles, what do you treasure? Be honest. Write it down. Now, look at that list and ask yourself if these treasures give you the opportunity to shine His Love in some way. Love your house? Use it to house weary souls. Love your car? Use it to drive a sick friend to the doctor's office. Have grandchildren? Teach them about the love of God. The list goes on and on. Use everything for His Glory, my friends. You will never be sorry you did.

Thank you, Lord, for all the treasures You have blessed me with on this earth. Continue to remind me of these treasures when I begin to glance toward the world instead of heaven!

God bless,
Bonnie

Thursday, June 19, 2014

A Little Quiet . . . Please?

I love my one hour of Adoration every week. It's valuable time to "hang" with Jesus. The quiet and peace walking into an Adoration chapel is immediately calming. Looking at the Blessed Sacrament, I know I am safe from the world here. Then, it usually happens . . . the mumbling whispers of another Adorer. Have I ever expressed I need total silence to stay focused? When I was in nursing school at Bethel College in North Newton, Kansas, I would make my way to the most remote part of the library . . .  the top floor in a soundproof room. I am very easily distracted, hence needing complete silence! As a young lay apostle (meaning young in the apostolate!) beginning to commit to spending time with Our Lord in the Blessed Sacrament, the loud whispers of others prayers drove me nuts! I would actually turn around and look at the person with pleading eyes to keep their prayers to themselves. Of course, it never worked!  As the years have passed, I am much more tolerant of this pet peeve of mine. I started praying for the person instead of being irritated by them. I figure Jesus needs me focused elsewhere and provides the opportunity almost every time! And the grin on Jay's face as I elbow him is all I need to refocus and listen to what Christ is asking of me. 

In todays Gospel (Matthew 6:7-15), Jesus makes it simple:

Jesus said to his disciples: “In praying, do not babble like the pagans, who think that they will be heard because of their many words. Do not be like them. Your Father knows what you need before you ask him. “This is how you are to pray:

‘Our Father who art in heaven,

hallowed be thy name,
thy Kingdom come,
thy will be done,
on earth as it is in heaven.
Give us this day our daily bread;
and forgive us our trespasses,
as we forgive those who trespass against us;
and lead us not into temptation,
but deliver us from evil.’

“If you forgive others their transgressions, your heavenly Father will forgive you. But if you do not forgive others, neither will your Father forgive your transgressions.”


In Volume One, I love how Anne a lay apostle turns the irritating behavior of others inward to reflect on her own behavior . . . something we must all emulate:


"I was attempting to say the Stations after Mass and there were little pockets of people chattering in the church. I couldn’t concentrate. This irritated me to no end. I offered it up, thinking they should be talking to Christ here in the church. I also thought of St. Therese and how she prayed a prayer of endurance when another nun’s habit of clicking her teeth disturbed her. My next thought was that I had probably been guilty of this same irritating behavior in the last week. How short are our memories when it comes to our own transgressions. I was worried that my prayer be disturbed by my concern over what to write in the journal. The Blessed Mother said, “Do not worry about your journal. We will tell you if you are doing something wrong.” When I entered a strange church for the first time, I looked around, examining the architecture, etc. It would not have been my choice, and I did not love the design. I gave a sigh, and looked at the tabernacle, with the crucifix hanging above it. Oh well, I thought, it gets the job done. It immediately struck me that it was kind of like me, imperfect, guilty of flaws and not at all ideal. But Jesus was using me, in all of my imperfections, to move His plan forward. Kind of like driving an old car. You might not go fast. You might have delays. And often you might have to coax and prod. In the end, though, you usually arrive at your destination. The more spiritual work we do, the more we practice following Christ in even the smallest details of our lives, the faster our car will drive for Jesus. I guess this is the movement to unify our will to His. We all must strive to be fast cars. What a curious analogy." 

Lay apostles, take a minute to think about what truly irritates you. Then, examine if these behaviors are reflections of your own at times. I know there have been occasions where I talked during a presentation or blown my nose constantly from a cold in Adoration that must have irritated others. Forgive yourself and forgive others their transgressions. It's a new day to begin again . . . to attain the attitude of Our Savior! 

Thank you, Lord for the "opportunities" You give me to practice tolerant behavior of others. And, remind me to pack earplugs just in case!

God bless,
Bonnie 

Wednesday, June 18, 2014

Quiet Humility

Unethical people never cease to amaze me. They used to anger me . . . now I see them as an opportunity for holiness. Jay and I are reading from Anne a lay apostle's book Climbing the Mountain. The page we read a few mornings ago profoundly affected our entire day . . . let alone how we will always look at any given situation. Here are the insightful words from Anne:

"One day I felt the cup of bitterness overflowing. I was saturated with bitterness and this resulted in anger. Knowing that I needed to be alone, I obtained a precious period of time and set out for a long, pounding walk. I passed the Adoration Chapel, trying to move quickly as the last thing I wanted to do was pray. To be honest, I was angry at Jesus because I was convinced that heaven was unreasonable in its expectations. I wanted to walk hard and deal with all that was hurting me. Jesus said, “Come to Me, Anne.” I said, “No, Lord. Trust me. You do not want me in this condition. I am too mad.” He replied, “Fine. Walk with My enemy instead.” I made the sharpest turn you can imagine. I understood that the enemy was gleeful at my condition and was more than willing to entertain me with all of the wrongs that had been sent my way and all of the injustices present in the work Jesus had willed for me. It was the enemy who had whipped me into this condition. My friends, the enemy had set me up. I went into Adoration and sat down hard and began to complain. I complained and I complained. I left nothing out. And Jesus listened. And He listened some more. At the end of thirty minutes of complaining, I glanced at Him in the Host. He was so pure, so kind, and so tolerant that my heart melted. He had let me get it all off my chest. What healed me was His perfect love and charity for me. My love for Him gushed out of my soul. I was a different person at the end of that hour than I would have been after a walk with the enemy who wished to encourage me in rebellion. I left Jesus like a lamb, willing to be hurt in service to Him for the sake of others. We must never underestimate what Jesus can do for us and we should understand that Jesus will take us in any condition."  

Wow, right? How many of us have chosen not to pray because we are too upset or too mad? My hand is raised . . . is yours?  Quiet humility, my friends. Once we become quiet in prayer, He can heal the deepest of wounds.

In todays Gospel (Matthew 6: 1-6, 16-18), Jesus is asking us to serve Him in humility, without looking for praise in our works:

Jesus said to his disciples: “Take care not to perform righteous deeds in order that people may see them; otherwise, you will have no recompense from your heavenly Father. When you give alms, do not blow a trumpet before you, as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and in the streets to win the praise of others. Amen, I say to you, they have received their reward.
But when you give alms, do not let your left hand know what your right is doing, so that your almsgiving may be secret. And your Father who sees in secret will repay you.

“When you pray, do not be like the hypocrites, who love to stand and pray in the synagogues and on street corners so that others may see them. Amen, I say to you, they have received their reward. But when you pray, go to your inner room, close the door, and pray to your Father in secret. And your Father who sees in secret will repay you.

“When you fast, do not look gloomy like the hypocrites. They neglect their appearance, so that they may appear to others to be fasting. Amen, I say to you, they have received their reward. But when you fast, anoint your head and wash your face, so that you may not appear to others to be fasting, except to your Father who is hidden. And your Father who sees what is hidden will repay you.”


Lay apostles, have you read Climbing the Mountain yet? I am on my third time reading through this eye-opening book. And I learn more and more each time I read it. There are so many pearls like the quote above. This is profound stuff! The next time you are too angry to pray, remember the words of Jesus, "Fine. Walk with My enemy instead."

Thank you, Lord, for getting to the point very quickly when I face the world and not You. But most importantly, thank you for loving me enough to send this apostolate into my life!

God bless,
Bonnie

Monday, June 9, 2014

Let Your Love Flow

There is a song by the Bellamy Brothers called Let Your Love Flow. After reading todays Gospel (Matthew 5:13-16), this song immediately came to mind. Here are the lyrics from the chorus:


Just let your love flow like a mountain stream
And let your love grow with the smallest of dreams
And let your love show and you'll know what I mean it's the season
Let your love fly like a bird on a wing
And let your love bind you to all living things
And let your love shine and you'll know what I mean that's the reason

By loving God and living a life in service to Him, we have a multitude of opportunities every day to make a difference. In how we react, how we love, and what we say. For when we shine His Light, we glorify Him:

Jesus said to his disciples: “You are the salt of the earth. But if salt loses its taste, with what can it be seasoned? It is no longer good for anything but to be thrown out and trampled underfoot. You are the light of the world. A city set on a mountain cannot be hidden. Nor do they light a lamp and then put it under a bushel basket; it is set on a lampstand, where it gives light to all in the house. Just so, your light must shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your heavenly Father.”

In Anne a lay apostle's book Climbing the Mountain, she emboldens us to continue the climb with love:


"The extent that we choose God determines the extent of the goodness God can flow through us here on earth. As we climb the mountain higher and higher toward heaven, our soul becomes stronger and its capacity to hold Christ becomes greater. We begin to disappear and Christ radiates through us. The higher we climb, the more Christ controls our will. This is done with our permission, lest souls begin to fear this heavenly possession. Souls in heaven are very much themselves, only they are themselves united to Christ. Can there be anything more desirable or beautiful? I have to say that if Christ possessed me, others would be safe from me and I could do no damage. If Christ possessed me, there would be no way that the enemy could use me to glorify himself or his legion of bitter ones. If Christ possessed me, His light would flow through me in a constant stream of grace and love. We must desire this unity above all else. Perhaps we will not reach that point on earth, but we will continue to offer Jesus our willingness and see what He can do with us. We will find joy in service because we will begin to experience heaven in saying 'no' to self and 'yes' to Him."

Lay apostles, how are you going to let your love flow today? Will others be able to see Christ in your actions and words? That's the goal . . . a goal I can only accomplish with God in my heart. 

Thank you, Lord, for supplying me with courage and strength not only from the Bible, but through Your servant Anne, too. 

God bless,
Bonnie


Words of Pope Francis today . . . just beautiful!

Christianity meant to practiced not imagined, says Pope

by Elise Harris


Pope Francis greets pilgrims in St. Peter's Square during his Wednesday General Audience on May 21, 2014. Credit: Daniel Ibáñez/EWTN.
Pope Francis centered his daily homily on the Beatitudes, stating that they are Jesus’ practical guide on how to live the Christian life, which often goes against what the world tells us.

The beatitudes are a “program,” the “identity card of a Christian” the Pope explained in his June 9 daily Mass, adding that they are “Few words, simple words, but practical for all.”

“Because Christianity is a practical religion: it is not just to be imagined, it is to be practiced.”

Addressing those present in the Vatican’s Saint Martha guesthouse, the Roman Pontiff focused his words on each of the beatitudes taken from the fifth chapter of Matthew’s Gospel, beginning with “Blessed are the poor in spirit.”

Wealth, he observed, gives us no true certainty, but rather suffocates the need for God and his word because the heart that is rich and self-satisfied has no room for them.

“Blessed are they who mourn for they will be comforted…The world tells us that happiness, joy and entertainment are the best things in life” the pontiff continued, but “it looks the other way when there are problems of disease or pain in the family.”

Explaining how the world often “covers up” suffering because it prefers to “ignore painful situations,” the Bishop of Rome noted that “Only the person who sees things as they are, and whose heart mourns, will be happy and will be comforted. Thanks to the consolation of Jesus, not to that of the world.”

“Blessed are the meek in this world which is filled with wars, arguments, hatred. And Jesus says: no war, no hatred. Peace and meekness” he went on, observing that often “if you are meek in life, people will think you are not clever.”

“But you are meek because with this meekness you will inherit the Earth.”

Moving onto the beatitude of those who “hunger and thirst for righteousness,” Pope Francis pointed out how easy it is to become corrupt and to take on the attitude of “everything is business.”

Lamenting the many injustices that are created on account of this mentality, the Pope stated that “Blessed are they who fight against injustice” and “Blessed are the merciful for they will be shown mercy.”

The merciful are “those who forgive and understand the mistakes of others” he noted, adding that Jesus does not tell us “blessed are they who seek revenge.”

“Blessed are they who forgive, who are merciful. Because we are all part of an army of people who have been forgiven! We have all been forgiven. That is why blessed is he who undertakes this path of forgiveness.”

Going on, the Roman Pontiff drew attention to the beatitude “blessed are the pure of heart,” those who “have a simple, pure heart without dirt, a heart that knows how to love with purity.”

“Blessed are peace-makers” he said, lamenting that “it is so common amongst us to be war-makers or perpetrators of misunderstandings!”

“When I hear something from one person, and I go and say it to someone else in a second, enlarged, edition,” this is “the world of gossip” the Pope observed, explaining that “people who gossip, who do not make peace, are enemies of peace. They are not blessed.”

Turning to the beatitude of those that are “persecuted for the sake of righteousness,” the Bishop of Rome called to mind the many who have been and who “continue to be persecuted simply for having fought for justice.”

All the beatitudes together, he explained, signify “a program for life offered to us by Jesus,” a program that is “So simple and yet so difficult.”

Concluding his homily, Pope Francis told those present that “If you have some time at home today, take the Gospel, Matthew’s Gospel, Chapter 5. At the beginning there are the Beatitudes; in Chapter 25 the rest.”

“It will do you good to read them once, twice, three times” he said, “read this program for holiness. May the Lord give us the grace to understand his message.”

Following his Mass Pope Francis met with Cardinal George Pell, prefect of the Secretariat for the Economy, and then canceled his appointments for the rest of the morning due to tiredness following last night’s invocation for peace with the Israeli and Palestinian presidents.

Poor In Spirit

In todays Gospel (Matthew 5:1-12) I am always drawn to the line about being "poor in spirit." What exactly does Jesus mean here? Those who don't believe in God or have lackluster faith acquire the Kingdom of heaven? Is He talking about people who are depressed or those who are weak in character? No, just the opposite. It's understanding we are nothing without God. I found an excellent explanation in a Catholic Answers forum:

"Note that He is talking about the 'poor in spirit' here. In other words, those who are aware of their own smallness and emptiness. The poor in spirit are not those who beat themselves up, but those who frankly recognize how puny they are before the mysteries of the universe and the Creator of that universe. They don't let their own accomplishments and abilities blind them to their morality and vulnerability. They don't fool themselves."

With this meaning in mind, I am comforted in my climb to holiness. Through the writings of this mission, I have become smaller . . . aware of the Glory of God in every situation. My goal is poor in spirit . . . is it yours?

When Jesus saw the crowds, he went up the mountain, and after he had sat down, his disciples came to him.  He began to teach them, saying:

“Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the Kingdom of heaven.
Blessed are they who mourn, for they will be comforted.
Blessed are the meek, for they will inherit the land.
Blessed are they who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they will be satisfied.
Blessed are the merciful, for they will be shown mercy.
Blessed are the clean of heart, for they will see God.
Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called children of God.
Blessed are they who are persecuted for the sake of righteousness, for theirs is the Kingdom of heaven.
Blessed are you when they insult you and persecute you and utter every kind of evil against you falsely because of me.


Rejoice and be glad, for your reward will be great in heaven. Thus they persecuted the prophets who were before you.”


In Volume One, our Blessed Mother provides comforting words for our journey to her Son:

"My heart aches for my little ones. I see them twisting and turning in despair. How I hover near them, waiting for them to glance at me so that I may rush in to comfort and guide them. Alas, they look everywhere but to heaven. It was never this way to such a degree in the world. People are ashamed to ask God for help because they feel it is a sign of weakness.
They fear trust. They think it makes them like children. So it does. And that is what they must be to enter in the kingdom of heaven, which is their eternal home. We must help souls to realize that it is time to come back to Jesus now. Time is short. There is no other way to say that. I want all souls to convert in the silence of their hearts and Jesus and I will lead them by the hand. No harm shall come upon them if they turn to us in their hearts. My heart is soft and forgiving. Like any good mother, I forget the mistakes of my children almost immediately. I can help poor sinners to forgive themselves and seek the forgiveness of my Son, a forgiveness that heals and strengthens. Sinners must not be afraid. They must simply close their eyes and say, ‘God, I have made mistakes. I’m sorry. I am Your child, though, and seek to be united to You.’ My child, all of heaven weeps for joy when even one soul makes this act of humility and love. How we rush in to assist this soul, and protect him from the attacks of the evil one. We nurture and guide this soul until he is back walking the path to Christ with confidence. Don’t be afraid, dear souls. You will find no recriminations. Only love."

Lay apostles, let's all strive to be "poor in spirit" today. What does that look like to you? How can you achieve what Our Savior asks of us? Is it praying a Rosary in thanksgiving? Or, sitting quietly in Adoration or even in your own backyard? Whatever it is, make time for Him. Open your heart and soul. He is ready and waiting!

Thank you, Lord, for helping me to achieve my quest to be poor in spirit. And, thank you for allowing me to understand Your Greatness through the Bible and the Volumes.

God bless,
Bonnie

Thursday, June 5, 2014

I Am Loved

Do you remember the little red pins with "I Am Loved" written in white? Helzberg Diamonds was and is responsible for spreading three little words which mean so much. Here is a little info on how this button came into being:

"Three Little Words that Come From the Heart

Something remarkable happens when you say to yourself, "I Am Loved." And the feeling is infinitely more extraordinary when the sentiment comes from someone else. It's no surprise that Barnett Helzberg Jr.'s idea for a button, printed with these three words, has been so genuinely meaningful to so many people.


Barnett is Loved

I Am Loved® was conceived in 1967 by Barnett Helzberg Jr., the thirty-something, third generation president of Kansas City-based Helzberg Diamonds. A young lady named Shirley Bush had just accepted Barnett's marriage proposal. To know she said yes...to know he was loved...Barnett was ecstatic! He wanted to tell the world!"

The message on this pin is exactly what Our Lord has been saying all along . . . we are loved. We may not feel earthly love at times, but God's love is unshakeable, constant, and forgiving, as every good Father must emulate (good Mom's, too!). 

Todays Gospel (John 17:20-26) makes it undeniable . . . we are loved:


Lifting up his eyes to heaven, Jesus prayed saying: “I pray not only for these, but also for those who will believe in me through their word, so that they may all be one, as you, Father, are in me and I in you, that they also may be in us, that the world may believe that you sent me. And I have given them the glory you gave me, so that they may be one, as we are one,
I in them and you in me, that they may be brought to perfection as one, that the world may know that you sent me, and that you loved them even as you loved me. Father, they are your gift to me. I wish that where I am they also may be with me, that they may see my glory that you gave me, because you loved me before the foundation of the world. Righteous Father, the world also does not know you, but I know you, and they know that you sent me. I made known to them your name and I will make it known, that the love with which you loved me
may be in them and I in them.”


In the booklet Heaven Speaks To Those Who Do Not Know Jesus, it is obvious Jesus is our biggest Cheerleader:



"If you learn to understand Me, you will learn that I want to use your gifts to create harmony in your soul. When you use your gifts and energy for My purposes, you will benefit the whole world. It must be so because I have said it is so and I can speak only the truth. We are all connected. Would you like to benefit the world? Truly, you are capable of this and this is My plan for you. I have so much to give to you in terms of knowledge and wisdom. Teamed with Me, you will flourish and grow to heights you never dreamed possible. Rejoice. You are resting with God, the God of All. This God tells you today that you are loved and needed. Follow this path that springs up before you. Come to Me. Turn in My direction and I will reveal this path that I want you to take. You will feel lightness in your spirit, a relief. You will feel calm. Inside there will quietly burst forth a bud of hope. This bud will blossom, have no fear. The hope you feel in your soul is nourished by the time you spend with Me, seeking truth."  

Lay apostles, do you feel the love of Our Savior at all times? It can be a challenge to feel loved in difficult or confusing situations on this earth. Before heading into the pits of despair, stop and say, "I am loved." Say it over and over until you believe it. 


Thank you, Lord, for the love You give me unconditionally. 


God bless,

Bonnie