The Cure For Pride

Pride can do a lot of damage . . . and leave a lasting effect not only on those subjected to it, but to the prideful person him/herself. In Proverbs 16:18 it says, "Pride goes before destruction, a haughty spirit before a fall." Acting superior to others can only result in wounds of inferiority and discord. Who wants to hang out with a "one-upper?" Quite frankly, it is exhausting. The minutes feel like hours . . . every time an attempt is made to contribute to the conversation, the prideful person, when beginning to feel inferior, interjects how they do it bigger, faster, better. So as Christians, how do we react when pride rears its ugly head? Do we join in the one upping game or do we act as Our Savior with meekness and humility? We are all guilty of prideful behavior at one time or another. Old wounds fester and get infected unless we take the necessary steps to heal. Healing cannot occur when we continually talk and not listen; brag instead of asking questions. Learn from the Gospels. See the outcome of pride for the followers of Christ, even the chosen Twelve. Read the Litany of Humility and practice it every day. My friends, Jesus is the salve . . . the only cure for pride. 

In todays Gospel (Matthew 6:17-29), Herodias' pride was more important than a life: 

Herod was the one who had John the Baptist arrested and bound in prison on account of Herodias, the wife of his brother Philip, whom he had married. John had said to Herod,
“It is not lawful for you to have your brother’s wife.” Herodias harbored a grudge against him and wanted to kill him but was unable to do so. Herod feared John, knowing him to be a righteous and holy man, and kept him in custody. When he heard him speak he was very much perplexed, yet he liked to listen to him. She had an opportunity one day when Herod, on his birthday, gave a banquet for his courtiers, his military officers, and the leading men of Galilee. Herodias’ own daughter came in and performed a dance that delighted Herod and his guests. The king said to the girl, “Ask of me whatever you wish and I will grant it to you.” He even swore many things to her, “I will grant you whatever you ask of me, even to half of my kingdom.” She went out and said to her mother, “What shall I ask for?” She replied, “The head of John the Baptist.” The girl hurried back to the king’s presence and made her request, “I want you to give me at once on a platter the head of John the Baptist.” The king was deeply distressed, but because of his oaths and the guests he did not wish to break his word to her. So he promptly dispatched an executioner with orders to bring back his head. He went off and beheaded him in the prison. He brought in the head on a platter and gave it to the girl. The girl in turn gave it to her mother. When his disciples heard about it, they came and took his body and laid it in a tomb.

In Heaven Speaks to Those Who Struggle to Forgive, Jesus offers us insight into how pride comes from our woundedness and inability to forgive:

"It is clear to Me that many suffer from hidden wounds. The only way for these wounds to heal is for the carrier of the wound to forgive the one who inflicted the injury. My dear child, this can be difficult. When a wound finds a home in the heart, it becomes comfortable there. It must be loosened and shifted. Both a willingness to forgive and a spirit of forgiveness are necessary because it is these things that make the wound uncomfortable. The wound then begins to dislodge. This reawakens the pain but only temporarily until the wound is removed altogether. I want to begin this process in you. If you proceed in the process of forgiveness with  Me, you will find that forgiveness floods your heart. Your wounds will be gone. I have the power to heal every one of your wounds. When you try to do this alone, you do not experience success and you find
that bitterness persists. Bitterness characterizes My enemy. Forgiveness characterizes Me. You, a beloved little child of God, seek to find peace in your heart. You will only find peace if you step into the stream of goodness. This stream is like a river of grace with which I desire to bathe you, removing all pain and injury. What will remain in your soul is joy. This joy, this heavenly peace, will be obtained by accepting your flaws and accepting the flaws of others. You see, My friend, if you accept the flaws and sins of others, you will soften in attitude toward yourself. I love you. I accept you. I need you to accept yourself so that you will be at peace in My Kingdom and it is through forgiving others that you will find acceptance of your own humanity."

Lay apostles, think about conversations you have with family, friends, co-workers, acquaintances. Are you doing most of the talking or most of the listening? Do a "pride-check" in your next conversation. Who are you emulating? Meek and humble Jesus or the prideful enemy? 

Thank you, Lord, for teaching me the importance of eradicating pride from my life and understanding the value of listening. Could You give me a little kick in the pants when I forget?

God bless,
Bonnie

Remain Vigilant

How do you react when under attack? Are you surprised? Shocked? Angry? Or, are you prepared for whatever comes your way? Spiritual warfare is raging all around us. It comes in many forms . . . some surprising, some expected. In order to overcome attacks, we must remain vigilant as to what is from heaven and what is from the enemy. It's easy to fall into the trap of feeling the victim. But if we believe what we read in the Bible, what the messages from Jesus and all of heaven tell us in the Volumes, how can we react any other way but with love, humility and trust that God has our back? He says it in todays Gospel (Matthew 24:42-51). Be prepared for anything and everything:

Jesus said to his disciples: “Stay awake! For you do not know on which day your Lord will come. Be sure of this: if the master of the house had known the hour of night when the thief was coming, he would have stayed awake and not let his house be broken into.
So too, you also must be prepared, for at an hour you do not expect, the Son of Man will come.

“Who, then, is the faithful and prudent servant, whom the master has put in charge of his household to distribute to them their food at the proper time? Blessed is that servant whom his master on his arrival finds doing so. Amen, I say to you, he will put him in charge of all his property. But if that wicked servant says to himself, ‘My master is long delayed,’ and begins to beat his fellow servants, and eat and drink with drunkards, the servant’s master will come on an unexpected day and at an unknown hour and will punish him severely and assign him a place with the hypocrites, where there will be wailing and grinding of teeth.”

In Anne a lay apostle's book Whispers From the Cross, she explains very clearly . . . if our eyes are diverted from Christ, we become an open door for the enemy's attack:

"Apostles, we must be more vigilant. If we have any ill feeling toward another, we must do battle with it in the presence of Jesus, who loves us all. If we do not do this hard work in our heads, the enemy will keep these feelings ‘on file’ and open them at a given time when we will then become a danger to the divine will through our bitterness. It must be said that it is shocking where the enemy can take us if we are not vigilant. It is as if we are at a train station and there are two trains. If we harbor ill will, envy, jealousy and anger, it is as if we are getting on the train that leads to darkness. We must think about this very carefully. The tracks only go in one direction and once this train leaves the station it becomes more and more difficult to get off. I think that if we were able to see where we were going by looking down the line of the railway tracks, we would immediately offer these things to the Lord for eradication and humble ourselves before Him. We do not want to resemble Cain and Abel. There is a train which goes in another direction and that leads to peace. When we covet the respect that another is given or the attention that is being paid to another then we are not reverencing what has been given to us. We then, if we get on the wrong train, will try to ‘look’ like them, stealing their identity, as it were and offering it to others falsely for the admiration we crave. This is not good modeling. To say we admire the virtues in another and strive to acquire these same virtues is wonderful. To look at the virtues of another and to admire the attention these others may get because they possess these virtues, and to then try to ‘steal’ the virtues by mimicking them but not practicing them, is diabolical in nature. We do not lovingly try to live the same goodness." 

Lay apostles, I am still surprised at times by unexpected attacks . . . even expected ones I prayed wouldn't occur. The beauty of being involved in this apostolate is I am prepared for the worst. It may be surprising, but not shocking. I know with every bone in my body Jesus has a plan for me . . . for every one of us. Sometimes that plan doesn't make sense to me, but it does to Him. I know I will understand completely the day I am face to Face with Our Savior. Until then, bring it on!

Thank you, Lord, for loving me and protecting me from the enemy invading my life. I don't know how people survive without you!!

God bless,
Bonnie

The Human Side of Me

The word stings when hurled viciously, stopping me for an instant. If it was used to shut me down to get their point across, I became even more passionate. The word? Hypocrite. Here is Bing.com's definition:

Somebody feigning high principles: somebody who pretends to have admirable principles, beliefs, or feelings but behaves otherwise.

Everyone who knows me, knows God is #1 in my life. I am and always will be a work in progress. During the early days of my faith journey through this mission, I tried my best to live the messages of Jesus and all of heaven. Now that doesn't mean I did it perfectly. So when my passion would flare (hey, I am part Italian and part Polish!) for something I felt strongly about, some would attack with "You are a hypocrite. I thought you were a Christian." I'm going to let you all in on a little secret . . . Christians are not perfect. I will never be perfect. As Anne a lay apostle says, we are all imperfect beings. I have always tried my best to be kind, humble and loving. I look back on those moments now and know Jesus was toughening me up . . . to fight even harder for Him. He was teaching me humility and strength of character. He was leading me to a calmer, peaceful existence I never knew was possible. So always remember each of us is on a unique journey toward heaven. It may not always look the way you think it should . . . instead take a look inward and make a change in the only place you can . . . yourself.

Todays Gospel (Matthew 23:27-32) teaches us to make sure the outside = the inside:

Jesus said, “Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, you hypocrites. You are like whitewashed tombs, which appear beautiful on the outside, but inside are full of dead men’s bones and every kind of filth. Even so, on the outside you appear righteous, but inside you are filled with hypocrisy and evildoing.

“Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, you hypocrites. You build the tombs of the prophets
and adorn the memorials of the righteous, and you say, ‘If we had lived in the days of our ancestors, we would not have joined them in shedding the prophets’ blood.’ Thus you bear witness against yourselves that you are the children of those who murdered the prophets; now fill up what your ancestors measured out!”

In Anne a lay apostle's book Lessons in Love, she gives a good example of why we must not generalize:

"Next, perhaps the searcher will ask the Lord to reveal His presence in the soul of another person, one who loves as Jesus loves, one who seeks Christ as the searcher seeks Christ, with an open heart and in truth. These apostles are everywhere, awaiting the inspiration of the Holy Spirit. Jesus will connect the one who seeks Him to holy fellowship when the time is right and persuade the searcher that while all Christians are human, all Christians are not hypocrites. This strategy for truly understanding what one is rejecting, seeks Christ in three ways: in Holy Scripture, in the Eucharist and ongoing life of the Church, and in other faithful Christians. These are good places to look for Jesus because He truly lives and ministers to us from these three places each day if we seek Him."

Lay apostles, strive to be an example of His Love and Truth. Look for the good. The human side of me sees what is going on in the world. It's so easy to be distracted by it all. But when looking through His Eyes, it is a much different view. Be the change you want to see in the world. 

Thank you, Lord, for building my spiritual muscles over the last 8 years. I pray I am hearing everything You want me to hear!

God bless,
Bonnie

A Little Soul Housecleaning

Sister Mary Lucy couldn't be missed walking the aisles at the CMN trade show. Her habit is pink, with white trim. Here is a pic from her website Heart of Mary Ministry, Inc.:

She exuded joy and peace as she approached our booth, immediately pulling out a copy of her Rosary CD after giving her a copy of my book, Can You Text Me Directions?. Jay and I came home from the CMN trade show with so many new books to read and CDs to listen to, I think I will be posting about this experience for the next few months! As a music lover, I am always looking for beautiful music to play in the background while I write. Oh my goodness! What an angelic voice! Here is a servant of Christ not only committing to Him on the outside with her God-given singing voice, but committed to Him as a consecrated soul! This is exactly what the Gospel is speaking about today . . . to make the outside = the inside. Thank you, Sister Mary Lucy, for being a shining example of His Love! 

The Gospel today (Matthew 23:23-26) teaches us to spend more time cleaning up the inside, our souls, than our outward appearances:

Jesus said: “Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, you hypocrites. You pay tithes of mint and dill and cumin, and have neglected the weightier things of the law: judgment and mercy and fidelity. But these you should have done, without neglecting the others. Blind guides, who strain out the gnat and swallow the camel!

“Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, you hypocrites. You cleanse the outside of cup and dish, but inside they are full of plunder and self-indulgence. Blind Pharisee, cleanse first the inside of the cup, so that the outside also may be clean.”

In Volume Seven, St. Philomena assures us a little courageous cleansing of our own souls will attract others to do the same:

"Dear brothers and sisters, you must be joyful during this time. Whenever you are tempted toward despair, you must think of heaven and how Jesus is making the earth like heaven by allowing this cleansing. Jesus is reclaiming the earth. That is a wonderful thing and will ensure that your children’s children will not have to contend with the darkness of sin that surrounds your children. It would please Jesus if you would be thankful to Him, despite any circumstances. A saint conducts herself this way and finds that she is joyful regardless of any and all hardships. Dear friends of heaven, the enemy will not prevail. You know this because you have been told this. At the end of this time, Jesus will return and the earth will be beautiful again. Before that, there will be a time when it will appear that the enemy has taken control of the world. The darkness of sin will reign and our beloved Church will suffer even more. Followers will face grave and constant attacks for their faith in many areas of the world. They will persevere and set the most beautiful example for others. This will draw others back to the faith in great numbers, so you see, the enemy’s strategy will backfire. The more God’s enemies persecute His children, the more children will choose God and remain true. It has always been this way, sadly. God’s children should serve Him faithfully in good times also, but many do not. Many become worldly when the times are easy. Be brave. Your courage will come from heaven and inspire many."

Lay apostles, I don't know about you, but I sure have some soul housecleaning left to do! I strive to be better every day by keeping Christ as my center . . . knowing He is by my side always. I do forget at times when my thoughts drift to the worldly view, but He gets my attention aligned with His very quickly these days. In what area do you need a little soul cleansing today? Maybe you can achieve that cleansing with #ActionsofCompassion? Just a thought . . .

Thank you, Lord, for all the beauty You have placed in the world like Sr. Mary Lucy and her stunning voice! Please continue to open my eyes to all the good!

God bless,
Bonnie

Focus On The Good

As I sit at my desk this afternoon to write, my thoughts are scattered. I have to keep repeating "FOCUS" to myself every time I get distracted. How ironic todays Gospel is all about focusing on what is good for us spiritually. I am always open to what He sends my way to help me grow in humility, service and love. And boy does He send people to expand my world, my vision and my focus. A few weeks ago a gentleman became a follower of mine on Twitter. I am grateful for every follower, so I send a word of thanks and follow back if they have a positive attitude and/or spreading the Words of Christ. Well, Shane Jeremy James is a man on a mission . . . "World change only happens because of consistent actions. Consistency is the key to all success. Myself I have never been smarter then anyone but I have been more consistent on a daily basis. You can't start and stop. You can't go half way. You MUST act daily and dreams do happen! Actions of Compassion will only work with daily actions. Actions always speak louder than words!"  We corresponded back and forth a few times, then another follower, Jill Page entered the scene. She works with Shane as the VP of Sales and Marketing. Talk about a ray of sunshine! Long story short, we set up a conference call last week to discuss the synergy of our missions in life and business . . . I think we talked for an hour and a half! It's not very often I encounter successful people who truly care about serving others. I am proud to say I am an Empowering Messenger working with these amazing individuals on a project called Actions of Compassion. More to come on how to be a part of this revolution to change hearts by spreading kindness in place of judgement; love instead of hatred; to serve rather than be served. I am truly blessed.

What is your focus? Todays Gospel (Matthew 23:13-22) makes it very clear:

Jesus said to the crowds and to his disciples: “Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, you hypocrites. You lock the Kingdom of heaven before men. You do not enter yourselves,
nor do you allow entrance to those trying to enter.

“Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, you hypocrites. You traverse sea and land to make one convert, and when that happens you make him a child of Gehenna twice as much as yourselves.

“Woe to you, blind guides, who say, ‘If one swears by the temple, it means nothing,
but if one swears by the gold of the temple, one is obligated.’ Blind fools, which is greater, the gold, or the temple that made the gold sacred? And you say, ‘If one swears by the altar, it means nothing, but if one swears by the gift on the altar, one is obligated.’ You blind ones, which is greater, the gift, or the altar that makes the gift sacred? One who swears by the altar swears by it and all that is upon it; one who swears by the temple swears by it and by him who dwells in it; one who swears by heaven swears by the throne of God and by him who is seated on it.”

In Volume One, Anne a lay apostle has nailed spot on how we should all practice what Jesus has been trying to teach us all along:

"Jesus asks us to focus on people’s strengths and attributes, rather than their flaws. Shining a light on someone’s good qualities is like sunshine on plants. It makes them grow. If we focus on their flaws, or negative qualities, it has the same effect in a negative way. We must practice being supportive and not critical, even in the face of the faults of others." 

Lay apostles, don't waste precious time and energy holding grudges, harboring anger, or lashing out at those closest to you. It's time. Time to make a positive change in this world by focusing on others in need. It's time to stop being the "victim" and begin actions of compassion. The more given in service to others, the more graces He rewards to heal our own woundedness.

Thank you, Lord, for teaching me how to focus on the good and getting past all the old wounds and hurts. I am a work in progress, but my eyes are more in focus now!

God bless,
Bonnie

Walking the Walk, Not Just Talking the Talk

Jay will tell you he is an introvert . . . something I completely disagree with! At the Catholic Marketing Network trade show a few weeks ago, he wandered the Exhibitor Hall most of the time. First day of the show, he came back to the booth and told me I had to meet someone. He escorted me to the booth of Anchor Distributors to meet Christian Haven and his son Dallen (the youngest of 9). Father and son had created a board game called Stella Nova: Journey of the Magi. As I approached the booth, I was greeted with the warmest, most genuine smile from Christian. I had brought over a couple copies of Can You Text Me Directions? to give to him and his son. When I found out he had 9 children (all young adults!), I went back to my booth to get extra copies. He was so kind and grateful, he gave us his game to take home! Over the next few days, we stopped by his booth to chat a few times, both of us so thankful Jesus put him in our lives. This is a man and his son evangelizing through a board game. How cool is that? Here are a few pics of Stella Nova and the creators:

Blurb from the website:

Gather round with family and friends to laugh and play--and celebrate--the birth of Christ and the true meaning of Christmas. 

Stella Nova means New Star, and the game is a race to see which of the wise men can be the first to reach the Christ child in Bethlehem with the three gifts of gold, frankincense, and myrrh. 

As well as a child's Race game, it's an adult Strategy game where players must decide which is the most efficient path to take and what resources and equipment to keep and what to leave behind. In addition, it's a Trivia game. Players must answer questions on Biblical history and geography to obtain the needed equipment and gifts.

Ages 8+

These men are walking the walk, not just talking the talk. Order your game today at the link above! What a great tradition to start with your family at Christmas! I know we will!

Todays Gospel (Matthew 22:1-14) is about living the Word of Christ, not just talking the talk:

Jesus again in reply spoke to the chief priests and the elders of the people in parables saying,  “The Kingdom of heaven may be likened to a king who gave a wedding feast for his son. He dispatched his servants to summon the invited guests to the feast, but they refused to come. A second time he sent other servants, saying, ‘Tell those invited: “Behold, I have prepared my banquet, my calves and fattened cattle are killed, and everything is ready; come to the feast.”’ Some ignored the invitation and went away,
one to his farm, another to his business. The rest laid hold of his servants, mistreated them, and killed them. The king was enraged and sent his troops, destroyed those murderers, and burned their city. Then the king said to his servants, ‘The feast is ready,
but those who were invited were not worthy to come. Go out, therefore, into the main roads and invite to the feast whomever you find.’ The servants went out into the streets and gathered all they found, bad and good alike, and the hall was filled with guests. But when the king came in to meet the guests he saw a man there not dressed in a wedding garment. He said to him, ‘My friend, how is it that you came in here without a wedding garment?’ But he was reduced to silence. Then the king said to his attendants, ‘Bind his hands and feet, and cast him into the darkness outside, where there will be wailing and grinding of teeth.’ Many are invited, but few are chosen.”

In Volume One, Jesus teaches us trust in Him will protect us forever:

"I want to speak to My children about trust. We are practicing trust at this time, because there will come a time in your life when trust will provide you with all manner of comfort and spiritual safety. Indeed, there will come a time when children of the light will flee to their trust and wrap it around them like a protective blanket. In the time of upheaval, trust in God will come naturally to My chosen souls who have practiced. I am seeking a fullness of union with My children. In this way, service to your God becomes easy. You would not trust someone you did not know, who is a stranger. Therefore, you must come to know Me. Through prayer, you will develop an easiness with Me, despite My divinity. It was never intended that mankind live apart from his God. It is for this reason the world experiences such profound darkness. The world has moved away from My heart. The world is deluded into thinking union with God is unattainable, and even sadder, unimportant. Spirituality and your relationship with the God of All is not something extra, like a hobby. It must be the defining compass in your life, always directing your journey. You need only look around to see the result of living without this love and direction. Man, who professes to be so aware of seeing to himself and addressing His own needs, is starving to death in a loveless wasteland. A person who has a genuine love for himself sees God as his friend, his ally, and loves all those around him. A person who has a genuine love for himself forgets about himself in the service to others. Ponder that thought, children, for in it lies the answer to the universe. I will clarify it for you if you ask Me in prayer. Be happy, dear children, for your Jesus loves you, and guides you with joy."

Lay apostles, are you living what you preach? Do you say one thing and then demonstrate the opposite? Our children, for that matter, everyone around us, are watching closely. The best evangelization is living by example. 

Thank you, Lord, for leading Jay to Christian and Dallen's booth. Please continue to guide me in living by example, shining Your Light to all who are watching!

God bless,
Bonnie

Remember You Are Loved

"Where's your white wristband from the welcome bag?" a woman asked me at the Catholic Marketing Network's author reception/book signing. I remember seeing it after dumping the contents of the bag on our hotel room bed. After informing her of its location, she told me to bring it to her booth in the Exhibitor Hall in the morning. Martha Fernandez Sardina (RememberYouAreLoved.com) is on a mission . . . to spread the love of Christ around the world. to remind people they are ALWAYS loved despite their environment. I did bring the bracelet the next morning . . . she placed it on my wrist and said, "Remember, you are loved." I then took Jay's wristband and placed it on his wrist telling him the same. We do feel loved, Martha. We feel His Love every day, every hour, every minute. I pray I help others in darkness, as Martha does, to love Him right back. 

Yesterdays Gospel (Matthew 19:23-30) is very direct . . . love God more than anything or anyone on earth:

Jesus said to his disciples: “Amen, I say to you, it will be hard for one who is rich to enter the Kingdom of heaven. Again I say to you, it is easier for a camel to pass through the eye of a needle than for one who is rich to enter the Kingdom of God.” When the disciples heard this, they were greatly astonished and said, “Who then can be saved?” Jesus looked at them and said, “For men this is impossible, but for God all things are possible.” Then Peter said to him in reply, “We have given up everything and followed you. What will there be for us?” Jesus said to them, “Amen, I say to you that you who have followed me, in the new age, when the Son of Man is seated on his throne of glory, will yourselves sit on twelve thrones, judging the twelve tribes of Israel. And everyone who has given up houses or brothers or sisters or father or mother or children or lands for the sake of my name will receive a hundred times more, and will inherit eternal life. But many who are first will be last, and the last will be first.”


In Volume Ten, Jesus encourages us to look everywhere for those in darkness . . . even in places we never imagined:

"Dearest souls, so bravely serving the Kingdom, your reward will be great. Many of you have been pulled from sin and darkness yourselves and brought to the light. I welcomed your return as if you were My only child. The place reserved for you in My heart felt complete when you came back to Me. Truly and completely do I love you. Now, we must seek out others. You will find them everywhere, and this is why you are serving everywhere. The souls who are at risk of eternal separation from Me are in each area of the worldly domain. Some are poor, some are wealthy. Some are looked down upon and some are highly respected. Some claim goodness, and some do not hide their affinity with the enemy. Regardless, I want them all."
  

Lay apostles, there are so many opportunities to shine the Light of Christ in this world! Take a look around www.RememberYouAreLoved.com and join Martha in reminding others we are all one body in Christ. Order some wristbands and spread the love!

Thank you, Lord, for people like Martha You have placed in my life to encourage my journey toward eternity.

God bless,
Bonnie

Tweet by Pope Francis

Pope Francis @Pontifex · Aug 15

"Dear young people, Christ asks you to be wide awake and alert, to see the things in life that really matter."

What Defines You?

Washing our cars this past Saturday, I realized my Toyota Avalon is 10 years old! I haven't had a car payment for over 5 years, and boy, I surely don't miss them. My Avalon has seen a lot over the last 10 years . . . two parents through end of life; daughters learning how to drive (scariest thing ever!); early morning school drop offs and after school pick ups; carseats housing my two precious grandsons. The list goes on and on. The embedded scratches on the bumper where I dragged wheelchairs in and out of my trunk covered with a new paint job years ago appear once again from dragging strollers in and out (man are they heavy now!). There will come a day when my old "girl" will lose her get up and go no matter how well I maintain her. But the memories . . . good and bad . . . will remain in my heart forever. Possessions are only "things" which will fade or break down over time. Love of Christ and commitment to Him will last an eternity.

Todays Gospel (Matthew 19:16-22) is more true today than ever before in history . . . more possessions, less God . . . when it should be just the opposite:

A young man approached Jesus and said, “Teacher, what good must I do to gain eternal life?” He answered him, “Why do you ask me about the good? There is only One who is good. If you wish to enter into life, keep the commandments.” He asked him, “Which ones?”

And Jesus replied, “You shall not kill; you shall not commit adultery; you shall not steal;
you shall not bear false witness; honor your father and your mother; and you shall love your neighbor as yourself.”

The young man said to him, “All of these I have observed. What do I still lack?” Jesus said to him, “If you wish to be perfect, go, sell what you have and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven. Then come, follow me.” When the young man heard this statement, he went away sad, for he had many possessions.

In Volume Three, God the Father provides courage to His Children in the process of gaining heaven:

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

Lay apostles, think about what defines you today. If this were your last day on earth, what would those left behind say about you and your life? That you had a big house and a fancy car? Or, that you lived a life of love, kindness, service and humility. I pray I am remembered by the latter.

Thank you, Lord, for opening my eyes to what is truly important . . . You and shining Your Light to others. I am forever blessed!

God bless,
Bonnie

Suffer With A Smile

Humidity and flat ironed curly hair just don't mix. I leave the house with nice straight hair and within minutes I can feel my hair expanding . . . Bozo the Clown comes to mind!  ;-) A few days ago my beautiful 16 year old niece arrived from Colorado to spend 11 days in sunny Florida. Last night we took her to the beach for dinner . . . she hadn't seen a beach since she was about 2 years old. Her childlike excitement of stepping foot on the sand, searching for seashells and carefully watching for washed ashore jelly fish was enchanting.  Despite the heat and quickly frizzing locks, God blessed us with a sunset we will all remember forever. It was spectacular!  So, suffer with a smile . . . for His Gifts are all around us . . . all we have to do is remember to see the beauty.

In todays Gospel (Matthew 16:24-28), Jesus asks us to endure suffering on earth in His Name . . . and our reward will be great in heaven:

Jesus said to his disciples, “Whoever wishes to come after me must deny himself, take up his cross, and follow me. For whoever wishes to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for my sake will find it. What profit would there be for one to gain the whole world
and forfeit his life? Or what can one give in exchange for his life? For the Son of Man will come with his angels in his Father’s glory, and then he will repay each according to his conduct. Amen, I say to you, there are some standing here who will not taste death until they see the Son of Man coming in his Kingdom.”

In Volume Two, Jesus shows us by focusing on Him instead of ourselves, we can bring His love and kindness to others:

"If you are hurried, you will miss My cue and the soul will remain without necessary consolation and guidance. Children, this is the state of affairs all over your world at this time. Do you notice that loneliness and despair are everywhere? Children, you will not find loneliness and despair where I am. Indeed, even in the most wretched of circumstances, if I am present, you will see eyes that smile and offer kindness, and you will see great hope, even in the face of suffering and death. So what is missing in your world? I am missing. Few souls allow Me to work through them. When I am allowed, you will see hope begin to flourish again. Faces will be more at peace and joy will flow naturally from one soul to another. I will put such joy in your faces that you will be unable to conceal your unity with Me. Crosses will feel lighter and hold great meaning. Children, I have so much to offer you, both in these words and in My constant presence in your lives. So do not turn away, even for a day. Draw closer to Me, that We may proceed. What feels difficult to you, anticipating changes in your life, will come easily. That is another promise I make to you."

Lay apostles, how do you endure suffering? Loneliness? Tragedy? I used to try to handle it alone. Now, I couldn't do it without Him. Maybe it's my age . . . but I sure wish I would have had the Volumes 40 years ago. I would have smiled more.

Thank you, Lord, for teaching me to suffer with a smile. I haven't perfected it yet, but I am learning!

God bless,
Bonnie

Collin Raye . . . another blessing at CMN

Another blessing from the Catholic Marketing Network trade show . . . hearing Collin Raye sing live! I have to admit, I wasn't sure who he was when we went, but after I heard two of his hits from the 90s, I could hardly believe I knew the words to his songs! Then he ended the show with a song he wrote for his granddaughter Haley, who died of a severe but undiagnosed brain disorder. Here is one of the most touching songs I have ever heard . . . especially as a grandparent:

Trust There Will Be Miracles

Miracles take my breath away. And they occur when I least expect it. This past week Jay and I attended the Catholic Marketing Network trade show in Schaumburg, IL to promote my book Can You Text Me Directions?. There were so many blessings which blossomed unexpectedly during the three days of this event. If I wrote about all of them at one time, this blog post would run on and on! So, I have decided to focus on one blessing at a time this week. The biggest blessing was a nun from New York. Sister Rosemary from the Sisters of the Resurrection sat alone in her booth with a smile on her face that lit up the room. Jay was drawn to Sr. Rosemary. She glowed with love as she described the Pro-Life pregnancy cards made by her order of nuns. Jay couldn't wait for me to meet her. He started with "she is a Mother Angelica . . . about 20 years younger!" As I walked up to her booth, she recognized Jay and met me with open arms. The connection was instant. She was wise, kind, humble and full of humor . . . she exuded the Light of Christ. She asked if we would be free for dinner after the Mass with Fr. Frank Pavone, of course we said yes! Despite the crowds and noise of the restaurant, our conversation never lagged. After about 15 minutes with her to ourselves, we knew this was no coincidence. She was sent from Jesus, we have no doubt. Her knowledge and compassion were exactly what we needed . . . prayed for. After the event was over, we had one last meal with her. We walked her out to her car and hugged her at least three times before saying goodbye. As she drove off, we prayed for her safety and thanked the Lord for such a tremendous gift. The message from Jesus was loud and clear . . . trust Me completely and I will shower you with graces beyond your wildest dreams! 

Todays Gospel (Matthew 14:22-36) shows how much our humanness lacks trust . . . even for those who had Jesus physically in front of them:

Jesus made the disciples get into a boat and precede him to the other side of the sea, while he dismissed the crowds. After doing so, he went up on the mountain by himself to pray. When it was evening he was there alone. Meanwhile the boat, already a few miles offshore,
was being tossed about by the waves, for the wind was against it. During the fourth watch of the night, he came toward them, walking on the sea. When the disciples saw him walking on the sea they were terrified. “It is a ghost,” they said, and they cried out in fear. At once Jesus spoke to them, “Take courage, it is I; do not be afraid.” Peter said to him in reply, “Lord, if it is you, command me to come to you on the water.” He said, “Come.” Peter got out of the boat and began to walk on the water toward Jesus. But when he saw how strong the wind was he became frightened; and, beginning to sink, he cried out, “Lord, save me!” Immediately Jesus stretched out his hand and caught him, and said to him, “O you of little faith, why did you doubt?” After they got into the boat, the wind died down. Those who were in the boat did him homage, saying, “Truly, you are the Son of God.”

After making the crossing, they came to land at Gennesaret. When the men of that place recognized him, they sent word to all the surrounding country. People brought to him all those who were sick and begged him that they might touch only the tassel on his cloak,
and as many as touched it were healed.

In Volume Four, Jesus again asks us to trust Him no matter what:

"The temporary peace offered by the world numbs your pain for a time, leading you to believe you have found the object of your search. Then that feeling wears off and you begin to search again, always looking for that thing which can only be found in Me. Shall I minister to you? Would you like Me to infuse your soul with courage and joy? Dear one, that is what I do for My true followers. They do not escape life’s difficulties. They have a steadiness that sets them apart from those who do not follow Me and who do not take advantage of heaven’s gifts. I want to share these gifts. On this day I want you to tell Me all day long that you believe in Me. You may not feel this. You may have a difficult time even forming the words. But in your heart, all of this day, tell Me this. I can then give you graces that will help your disbelief. We will begin to shift the stubborn doubts sowed by the father of lies. You have nothing to lose. You have tried many other remedies for your discontent. Some of you have abused your bodies in an attempt to quiet the cries of your soul. I want you to think of Me as another remedy for any difficult symptoms you are experiencing. If I do not keep My promise, to grant you peace and joy, then you may continue your search. But you must give Me a chance and to do that you must spend time in silence with Me. Come to a church that houses a tabernacle. Sit before Me in silence. Allow Me to speak to you and I will speak to you. Be brave, little soul. You have tried many more daring things than this, have you not? Come to Me now and give your God a chance."

Lay apostles, when we left for the trade show, the last thing on my mind was people I would meet. I was so caught up in making sure I had copies of my book shipped to the hotel, flyers created and printed, along with everything else there was to prepare for our booth. Every day people entered our lives who will remain there forever. Special stories of difficulties, hardships, miracles and thankfulness will impact us forever. No matter your situation, no matter where you are, trust there will be miracles along the way. Trust in the graces He showers His faithful followers. Trust and pray.

Thank you, Lord, for Sr. Rosemary, the Sisters of the Resurrection, and the gift of friendship and love. I am blown away how much You love me!

God bless,
Bonnie