A Time For Reflection

2016 is just about upon us . . . and I find myself reflecting on the past year. It's easy to think about the bumps in the road of 2015, but I want to focus on all the beautiful, loving gifts from our Heavenly Father. There are so many graces I am extremely thankful for, and the following may not capture everything, but these are the highlights:

Celebrating 2 years of marriage to the love of my life, with our new marriage book (Letting Purpose & Passion Drive Your Marriage; How To Find Harmony & Happiness No Matter What!) published in July!

4 healthy, amazing grandchildren I get to love unconditionally

4 daughters with big hearts trying to make good decisions for Christ, which sometimes requires suffering and sacrifice

2 sons-in-law stepping up to be good fathers and husbands

A new addition to the family, and he happens to be an awesome drummer in the band Saint Motel

A successful year in our commercial real estate business

Adding new family members: an Australian family of 5 whom we adore 

Seeing our 17 year old niece transform after attending the School of Holiness in Ireland

Jay and I embarking on a life changing program . . . the Whole30 (gluten free, sugar free, dairy free was not something I EVER imagined I could do! Thanks to my sis Diane and niece Jenna!)

The support and love we receive from Anne a lay apostle, Fr. Darragh Connolly and all the DFOT team

There are so many more blessings . . . but my time is limited today and know if I have forgotten to add something to this list, it is not intentional! Tomorrow is a new year . . . a time to love more, laugh more, practice humility, develop greater patience, realize we are all imperfect while recognizing the good in each other, and most importantly, love Jesus more. Tomorrow is another beginning . . . lets support each other in making it a stellar 2016!

Todays Gospel (John 1:1-18) takes us back to the beginning:

In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was in the beginning with God.  All things came to be through him, and without him nothing came to be. What came to be through him was life, and this life was the light of the human race; the light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it.

A man named John was sent from God. He came for testimony, to testify to the light,  so that all might believe through him. He was not the light, but came to testify to the light. The true light, which enlightens everyone, was coming into the world.

He was in the world, and the world came to be through him, but the world did not know him.
He came to what was his own, but his own people did not accept him.

But to those who did accept him he gave power to become children of God,  to those who believe in his name,  who were born not by natural generation  nor by human choice nor by a man’s decision  but of God.

And the Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us, and we saw his glory, the glory as of the Father’s only-begotten Son, full of grace and truth.

John testified to him and cried out, saying,  “This was he of whom I said,  ‘The one who is coming after me ranks ahead of me  because he existed before me.’” From his fullness we have all received, grace in place of grace, because while the law was given through Moses,  grace and truth came through Jesus Christ. No one has ever seen God. The only-begotten Son, God, who is at the Father’s side,  has revealed him.

In Volume Three, God the Father gives us a new beginning if we chose Him:

"My children, you await union with Me, even though you do not realize this. There is always something lacking, something you are longing for, while you remain on earth. Those who are close to Me, and who attempt to serve Me in their daily lives, feel less of the emptiness. Those who are far from Me, particularly those who once knew Me and then moved away from Me, feel it to a greater degree. I do not care how you have tried to fill that emptiness in the past. What I am saying to you now is that I wish to fill the void you are experiencing. Souls close to Me, I refer to you too. I want to renew you. Souls far from Me, turn to Me, pray to Me, and I will fill you with such gladness that you will not regret your decision against the false gods the world uses to distract you. Souls undecided, I gently call out to you. Do you hear Me? Do you hear the voice of your Creator within your soul? It is I. Have faith, little ones. I am calling out to you all. To some I call gently and quietly. To some I call with a thunderous command. What do I say? I say turn away from insulting your God. Turn away from sin. Come back to Me now, while I can salvage your earthly experience. Soon your time here will run out and you will have made your decision. Do you want Me? Truly, I want to be with you. I want to rejoice in you, My little one. I want to give you great joy, great peace, great security and safety. 

There is no substitute for the one true God and I am He. I have given you instruction on how to return to Me. My Son has explained how you fall away, how you stay away, and how you must eradicate habits that lead you away. Your heavenly mother, Mary, shows you nothing but love and care. She has brought many souls to heaven and will bring legions of them now in these times. Follow these lights. Follow these words. Follow this call and come to Goodness. Children, please, your Father wants each and every one of you. I want you to be with Me. I can say this no differently. When you turn to Me, I will give you a sample of My love. To many I have already done so. This is the very tip. This is the very beginning. I do not reprimand you. Because of the Sacrifice of My Son, your sins will be forgiven. They will be forgotten. I am issuing you a pardon from your sins, little ones. That is the kind of Father I am. I have a short memory of your sins, particularly for these current struggling souls who have contended with a time of great darkness. So there is nothing left to consider except the love that I have for you. There is nothing standing in the way of you, My beloved child, and Me, your merciful Father."

Lay apostles, there will always be setbacks in our life which throw us off our climb up the mountain of holiness. We can either give up or start anew . . . the choice is ours to make. God is hoping we choose Him. 

Thank you, Lord, for Your Great Mercy. It would be so easy for me to give up when things are not going the way I want. Instead, Your Love propels me forward to achieve what You ask of me.

God bless and HAPPY NEW YEAR!!

Bonnie

A Life Centered In Prayer

Honestly, I don't know how they do it. It must create fear unparalleled to any other. It must feel like a constant state of chaos with an ego in need of stoking to establish stability. When we don't know the love and mercy of Christ, and I mean truly feel His Love and Mercy, all we see is the worldly view of our circumstances, not the heavenly view.  Evil is ready to pounce at a moment's notice when we feel disappointed, sad, hurt, or offended. Remember, we have a choice. We can either tumble down the rabbit hole running after revenge/retaliation, or, ask God what lesson we are in need of. Is it humility? Patience? Trusting Him completely? Whatever situation or circumstance we find ourselves in, we must run to Him, our Heavenly Father, to comfort and impart His Wisdom as any good father on earth would do for their children. 

Todays Gospel (Luke 2:36-40) demonstrates how focus on Christ heals and comforts:

There was a prophetess, Anna, the daughter of Phanuel, of the tribe of Asher.  She was advanced in years, having lived seven years with her husband after her marriage, and then as a widow until she was eighty-four.  She never left the temple, but worshiped night and day with fasting and prayer.  And coming forward at that very time, she gave thanks to God and spoke about the child to all who were awaiting the redemption of Jerusalem.

When they had fulfilled all the prescriptions of the law of the Lord, they returned to Galilee, to their own town of Nazareth.  The child grew and became strong, filled with wisdom; and the favor of God was upon him.

In the 2015 Christmas letter from Anne a lay apostle, she asks us to contemplate relationships in our lives and see them through the Eyes of Jesus:

"Now, humanity being what it is, we cannot always get along as well as we would wish with the important people in our lives. But we can certainly try. And a good start is to consider those around us using the mind of God. When we try to contemplate each other with God’s mind, we cannot help but be more compassionate and patient and also understanding. Because while we experience hurt personally, so often the actions of another have more to do with their wounds than with a desire to hurt us. When we use God’s mind, we can forgive more quickly and easily. Peace on earth means peace in our important relationships, whenever possible.

 

I think our quiet contemplation of each other would please the Infant King. As lay apostles, pleasing our King is of paramount importance. So together let us pray for peace in the world and in our families and in our hearts. Together let us pray for all prisoners and all families, especially those who worry for an addicted family member or for those families who have suffered a great loss this year. Together let us pray for those who are sick or suffering and most especially, let us remember those who may feel lonely this Christmas, even if they are not alone."

Lay apostles, I am imperfect. As I write todays blog post, I am reminded to stay focused on Him and love others with all their imperfections. I may experience hurt, sadness, or frustration, but when I react with love and understanding, I am pleasing the Infant King!

Thank you, Lord, for continually showing me I need to turn to You first . . . ALWAYS! And, love others as You love me.

God bless,

Bonnie

I Am Imperfect

Fear of the unknown. What if I'm exposed, wrong, embarrassed, humiliated, or powerless? What if I have to admit I'm not perfect not only to others, but to myself? I'm sorry to have to tell you this, but admitting your imperfection makes you . . . human. Welcome to Christianity! There was only ONE perfect Person who walked the face of this earth, and He was murdered for our sins. Be flawed, but always striving for perfection in His Eyes, not the world's. He is so much easier to please!

A leader without humility can do a lot of damage as todays Gospel (Matthew 2:13-18) demonstrates:

When the magi had departed, behold, the angel of the Lord appeared to Joseph in a dream and said, "Rise, take the child and his mother, flee to Egypt, and stay there until I tell you. Herod is going to search for the child to destroy him." Joseph rose and took the child and his mother by night and departed for Egypt. He stayed there until the death of Herod, that what the Lord had said through the prophet might be fulfilled, Out of Egypt I called my son.

When Herod realized that he had been deceived by the magi, he became furious. He ordered the massacre of all the boys in Bethlehem and its vicinity two years old and under, in accordance with the time he had ascertained from the magi. Then was fulfilled what had been said through Jeremiah the prophet:

A voice was heard in Ramah, sobbing and loud lamentation; Rachel weeping for her children, and she would not be consoled, since they were no more.

In the Monthly Message of December 2011, Jesus assures us our imperfections will not damage His Plan:

"Do I require that you be powerful? Important? Do I need you to be people of great wealth or great influence in the eyes of the world? Will My plan be threatened by your imperfection or your difficulty maintaining holiness in every moment? Do I need only angels? Or do I need apostles of good will serving exactly where I have placed them? You were created to persevere and even flourish with limited understanding of all that is happening around you and through you. Yes, dear apostles, I am filled with hope. I am hoping that you accept My love. I am hoping that you allow Me to bring you healing, daily. I am hoping that through you I can love and heal others whom you will encounter in your daily experience. I bring you so many gifts of knowing Me, both directly and indirectly."

Lay apostles, let go of the pressure to be perfect. And, stop pressuring others to be perfect. We all have our strengths and weaknesses. Acknowledge this and focus on your strengths and the strengths of others. Jesus knows our imperfections and if we follow Him, He uses our imperfections for the good of His Kingdom.

Thank you, Lord, for helping me to accept my imperfections. Continue to show me how to use them to benefit Your Kingdom.

God bless,
Bonnie

Accentuate the Positive

Negativity abounds every time I turn the TV on. It's one of the reasons I rarely watch the news. Now if I were the owner of a television station with news telecasts, here is what I would make mandatory: for every negative piece of news, there was positive to offset it. Think about how that could effect people. Or better yet, MORE positive than negative? There are countless compassionate people making this world a better place, striving to bring hope when hope can be hard to find. There is a song by the beloved Ella Fitzgerald called "Ac-Cent-Tchu-Ate The Positive" which sums up what we as Christians should be showing the world. Here are some of the lyrics, followed by a YouTube video of Ella singing this uplifting song:

You've got to accentuate the positive

Eliminate the negative

Latch on to the affirmative

Don't mess with Mister In-Between

You've got to spread joy up to the maximum

Bring gloom down to the minimum

Have faith or pandemonium

Liable to walk upon the scene

To illustrate his last remark

Jonah in the whale, Noah in the ark

What did they do

Just when everything looked so dark

Man, they said we better, accentuate the positive

Eliminate the negative

Latch on to the affirmative

Don't mess with Mister In-Between

No, do not mess with Mister In-Between

Do you hear me?

Oh, listen to me children and-a you will hear

About the elininatin' of the negative

And the accent on the positive

And gather 'round me children if you're willin'

And sit tight while I start reviewing'

Todays Gospel (Luke 10:21-24) reminds us of the graces given to followers of Christ:

Jesus rejoiced in the Holy Spirit and said, “I give you praise, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, for although you have hidden these things from the wise and the learned you have revealed them to the childlike. Yes, Father, such has been your gracious will. All things have been handed over to me by my Father. No one knows who the Son is except the Father, and who the Father is except the Son and anyone to whom the Son wishes to reveal him.”

Turning to the disciples in private he said, “Blessed are the eyes that see what you see.
For I say to you, many prophets and kings desired to see what you see, but did not see it, and to hear what you hear, but did not hear it.”

In Anne a lay apostle's book Whispers From the Cross, she directs us to focus on the positive:

"If the world is facing a difficult time, and it seems that we are, then we will need to work very hard to understand God’s power and stop talking about darkness. Is the darkness there? Of course. Only a spiritually blind man would deny this. But we sometimes add to the darkness instead of holding up the light. We can be guilty of doing this by talking incessantly of the darkness with dire threats of impending doom. In most cases, we are speculating. Perhaps we should speculate on how God can rescue us and posit those theories instead of hypothesizing how the enemy will play with us next. Perhaps we will speculate on how the Church will lead us with strength and courage instead of how we will be overcome. Perhaps we could try an exercise and guess how good men will become great men through challenges instead of guessing how men of apparent lesser good will become evil through temptation. May the Lord have mercy on us for being so pessimistic about God’s world and may the Lord enlighten us as to how we bring unity to God’s Church and not division. If we identify that unity is desirable, and indeed necessary for the advancement of the renewal, then we will make a decision to participate in the acquisition of this unity. Jesus loves us so much. He has such tremendous hope placed in each one of us and in each one of the roles we have been assigned."

Lay apostles, what are you focused on today? Life is full of disappointments if you continue to dwell on them. So, let's accentuate the positive . . . stepping away from all the negativity and opening our eyes to the beauty and graces provided by Our Father in heaven. At the least, with every negative thought, quickly think of a positive one to offset it! I'll be working on that right along with you!

Thank you, Lord, for shaking the negative out of my head with Your beautiful words in the Gospel and in Anne's books. Continue to remind me to focus on the positive!

God bless,
Bonnie

I Will Follow Him

After reading the Gospel today, the song "I Will Follow Him" and the movie Sister Act immediately came to mind. The vision of a group of nuns singing this tune about Our Savior puts a smile on my face every time I hear it! Here is a clip of this vision of joy:

We all have choices . . . to live a life with or without Christ. I choose to follow Him. Whenever I veer off that path thinking I can control my journey alone, I am reminded (and sometimes very quickly!) I cannot. He is my source of strength when I am weak; my calm when chaos ensues; my comforter when I am fearful. I could never imagine a life without Him. 

Todays Gospel (Matthew 4:18-22) couldn't be any clearer . . . nothing is more important than taking up your cross and following Christ:

As Jesus was walking by the Sea of Galilee, he saw two brothers, Simon who is called Peter, and his brother Andrew, casting a net into the sea; they were fishermen.
He said to them, “Come after me, and I will make you fishers of men.” At once they left their nets and followed him. He walked along from there and saw two other brothers, James, the son of Zebedee, and his brother John. They were in a boat, with their father Zebedee, mending their nets. He called them, and immediately they left their boat and their father and followed him.

In the June 2012 Monthly Message, Jesus encourages His followers:

"I am pleased when I see holiness increasing in My friends and this increase in holiness is what gives Me hope for the Church. Yes, I am urging My followers toward sacrifice and service and many of you are answering with your whole hearts. You, listening to My words and allowing them to change you, are giving Me great hope. With this hope I push on into the world, confident, that while some resist change, others embrace it. Yes, change is happening, most especially in the heart of every committed apostle. You are becoming holier. As you are becoming holier, My Church is becoming holier. Apostles, hear this call with all seriousness. I, Jesus, have everything needed to advance the Church into greater unity. And I, Jesus, can do this as quickly as you will allow Me."

Lay apostles, pick up your cross and follow Jesus. What have you done today to spread the messages of Jesus in the Gospels and the Volumes?  It doesn't have to be complicated. For example, have you told someone you love them today?  If not, say it! Have you smiled at a stranger who seems sad? If not, smile! Be joyful and band together with fellow lay apostles around the world to provide what this world so desperately needs . . . the hope of salvation. 

Thank you, Lord, for providing what I need when I need it! 

God bless,

Bonnie

Signs, Signs, Everywhere a Sign

I don't needs signs anymore. But I do require a gentle "shove" in the right direction every once in a while. Jesus knows me well. He knows when I ask for help with decision-making, I need His answer to slap me in the face. If it doesn't, I vacillate back and forth trying to figure out if my thoughts are His will or my own. Ultimately, the answer lies in this . . . will my decision further His Kingdom? Or, will it make me feel better, or stronger, or more loved? Pray the Litany of Humility. The answer will be crystal clear.

In todays Gospel (Luke 21:5-11), Jesus answers the "signs" question:

While some people were speaking about how the temple was adorned with costly stones and votive offerings, Jesus said, "All that you see here the days will come when there will not be left a stone upon another stone that will not be thrown down."

Then they asked him, "Teacher, when will this happen? And what sign will there be when all these things are about to happen?" He answered, "See that you not be deceived, for many will come in my name, saying, 'I am he,' and 'The time has come.' Do not follow them! When you hear of wars and insurrections, do not be terrified; for such things must happen first, but it will not immediately be the end." Then he said to them, "Nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom. There will be powerful earthquakes, famines, and plagues from place to place; and awesome sights and mighty signs will come from the sky."
In Volume Three, God the Father asks us to search for signs:

"My children of the world, look for Me. Look for the signs in your world that I am present. Some would have you believe that I am no longer actively directing the outcome of this time. Children, can you believe that I would lovingly lead My children for centuries, since the beginning of the world, and then leave? Would I really turn away from My precious creatures? This idea is fooling many souls today. They proceed in their lives as though I do not exist and as though there will be no reckoning for decisions against Me, against others, and at times even against nature, as I created nature. I see all. I will judge every action. I will reward every decision made by one soul for the benefit of another. In the same way, I will challenge every decision made by one soul to the detriment of another. Children, all is being recorded. You will account for your life. I am merciful. I am merciful to a degree that will astound you. But you must allow Me to be merciful. You must accept My mercy. You cannot scorn My mercy, child. Allow Me to exercise My mercy in your life. “How must we do that, Father?” you ask. I will tell you. You must say this to Me: 'God, my Father in heaven, You are all mercy. You love me and see my every sin. God, I call on You now as the merciful Father. Forgive my every sin. Wash away the stains on my soul so that I may once again rest in complete innocence. I trust You, Father in heaven. I rely on You. I thank you. Amen.'”

Lay apostles, are you waiting for signs the end is near? Or, are you searching for signs of God's presence in our world? Live life in preparation for His second coming, not in fear of it. If you are prepared, there are no surprises. Only the joy of living for eternity with our Savior, Jesus Christ!

Thank you, Lord, for showing me the importance of living for You while on this earth. Please keep me focused on Your signs of beauty and love so graciously provided to endure this time in exile from You.

God bless,
Bonnie

Offer From the Heart

When Sunday Mass rolls around and the money baskets are passed, who are we thinking of when we place the check or cash within? Are we thinking of Jesus, how He died for our sins, and the price He paid? Or, are we thinking about the brunch after Mass we will have to pay for? The cell phone bill due next week? The lattes we drink on our way to work every morning? The next time you contribute $4 for a latte at Starbucks, think about how that $4 times the number of visits to your favorite coffee shop can add up. Then, pass on the expensive coffee and add it to your church fund. Depending on how much you consume, all of the sudden you are contributing more in the right direction. The more you give Him of yourself, your time and your money, the more graces and blessings shower you on earth. I've seen it happen with my very eyes. Give for Him and He will provide exactly what you need.

In todays very short Gospel reading (Luke 21:1-4), Jesus shows us His love and mercy for those who think of Him first:

When Jesus looked up he saw some wealthy people putting their offerings into the treasury and he noticed a poor widow putting in two small coins. He said, "I tell you truly, this poor widow put in more than all the rest; for those others have all made offerings from their surplus wealth, but she, from her poverty, has offered her whole livelihood."

In Anne a lay apostle's book Lessons in Love, she gives us a healthy perspective on stewardship from any financial climate we find ourselves:

"Families proceeding from a solid Christian identity will be careful about their views of material possessions. If a family has been given or allowed great wealth, that family will be alert to keep possessions in their proper perspective, meaning emphasize people, not things, and teach their children good stewardship. The word “wealth” is highly subjective of course. The poorest family can perceive themselves as wealthy if they compare “down” to those who have less. The wealthiest family can feel bitter if they compare “up” to those who have more. A healthy attitude for any family will be to promote an outpouring of gratitude to God for whatever blessings they have been given—material, spiritual or relational. A positive approach to our faith will teach our children to flow out from Christ generously."

Lay apostles, what can you do to contribute more to your church? Take note of everything you spend money on in a given week. Discover what is necessity and what is for pleasure. What changes can you make to add more to your gift giving on Sunday? Every little bit helps. He is worth everything and more. Give when you have nothing left. It won't go unnoticed. He sees everything.

Thank you, Lord, for showing me the importance of the widow's contribution in the Gospel. I will continue to look for ways to contribute more and be co-responsible for the growth of our beautiful Church!

God bless,
Bonnie

Anger Is Not The Answer

Maintaining my lips in the locked position is always the right thing to do when something upsets me. The ability to do so escapes me at times, but overall, I would say a big improvement in this much needed skill set! When I am at odds with someone or situations, the Litany of Humility ALWAYS presents itself in my mind. Especially the line "That, in the opinion of the world, others may increase and I may decrease . . ." Every one of us wants to feel important . . . that we and our feelings matter. Alas, we are all human and may fail each other in this respect. Which is why we must remain focused on Jesus and the love, mercy and patience He has for all His Children. So when someone doesn't make me feel I matter, I ask for God's guidance and comfort.  When I truly focus on His response to my request, peace and calm return quickly. 

Todays Gospel (John 2:13-22) shows Jesus making a statement in regard to taking our Father and our Church seriously:

Since the Passover of the Jews was near, Jesus went up to Jerusalem. He found in the temple area those who sold oxen, sheep, and doves, as well as the money-changers seated there. He made a whip out of cords and drove them all out of the temple area, with the sheep and oxen, and spilled the coins of the money-changers and overturned their tables, and to those who sold doves he said, "Take these out of here, and stop making my Father's house a marketplace." His disciples recalled the words of Scripture, 'Zeal for your house will consume me.' At this the Jews answered and said to him, "What sign can you show us for doing this?" Jesus answered and said to them, "Destroy this temple and in three days I will raise it up." The Jews said, "This temple has been under construction for forty-six years, and you will raise it up in three days?" But he was speaking about the temple of his Body. Therefore, when he was raised from the dead, his disciples remembered that he had said this, and they came to believe the Scripture and the word Jesus had spoken.

In Anne a lay apostle's book Whispers From the Cross, she describes why anger is not the answer when conflict arises:

"The holiest and most pure relationships will include misunderstanding and conflict while the people involved serve in exile from heaven. There are close relationships and not-so-close relationships. It is important to Jesus that we discuss conflict because there is no need for misunderstanding or conflict to result in behavior that is not consistent with Christ’s example as seen in Holy Scripture. How did Jesus behave when there was conflict? He spoke few words but they were true words. It is best, in the area of conflict, if we spend time going through a situation of difficulty in the presence of Jesus and conclude on a holy course of action. Anger makes this even more necessary because anger leads to the enemy’s plan. People love to talk about righteous anger and so often refer to the Lord’s behavior in the temple. We like to convince ourselves that our anger is righteous. I am equally convinced that rarely will our anger be righteous. More often it will be plain old self-indulgent anger which is symptomatic of pride. I speak as an experienced person, not an observer, and I can assure the reader that Jesus would like us to avoid acting in anger whenever possible. Humility allows for wounds. This is partially why humility is so important. If a person is humble, he will be willing to say, 'I am hurt.' When we admit something has hurt us, we can steer away from anger and take things calmly, acting with Christ to deal with any misfires in the relationships around us. This calm course will help us to remain an asset to heaven as opposed to a liability."

Lay apostles, understand the conflict occurring in your life and assess if you are staying focused on Christ. When you feel yourself moved toward anger, humility is more likely the proper response Jesus asks of us.

Thank you, Lord, for helping me to remain calm when my human emotions may signal otherwise. Continue to keep my focus on building the Kingdom and that others may see You in me.

God bless,
Bonnie

No Excuses, Just Truth

The truth can be devastating. It can also set us free. Admitting our poor choices takes too much effort, so excuses usually suffice. It sugar coats the reality we live day to day. The problem is, it will all catch up to us at some point. As Christians, we are called to speak the Truth . . . so why do we continue to make ourselves appear happier, smarter, more powerful, richer, etc. than we really are? Excuses. Facing the reality of who we are and what we have become could mean we are just like every other human being . . . flawed. Yes, I am imperfect. But every day I try my best to overcome my flaws and do it a little better than I did the day before. Some times I succeed. Some times I fail. Each day God gives me on this earth is an opportunity to become holier, drawing closer to my Heavenly Father. After all, I will meet Him Face to face some day. And, there will be no excuses allowed.

In todays Gospel (Luke 14:15-24) Jesus, in so many words, asks us to STOP making excuses and focus on God:

One of those at table with Jesus said to him, "Blessed is the one who will dine in the Kingdom of God." He replied to him, "A man gave a great dinner to which he invited many. When the time for the dinner came, he dispatched his servant to say to those invited, 'Come, everything is now ready.' But one by one, they all began to excuse themselves. The first said to him, 'I have purchased a field and must go to examine it; I ask you, consider me excused.' And another said, 'I have purchased five yoke of oxen and am on my way to evaluate them; I ask you, consider me excused.' And another said, 'I have just married a woman, and therefore I cannot come.' The servant went and reported this to his master. Then the master of the house in a rage commanded his servant, 'Go out quickly into the streets and alleys of the town and bring in here the poor and the crippled, the blind and the lame.' The servant reported, 'Sir, your orders have been carried out and still there is room.' The master then ordered the servant, 'Go out to the highways and hedgerows and make people come in that my home may be filled. For, I tell you, none of those men who were invited will taste my dinner.'"

In Volume Two, Jesus states very clearly to stay focused when encountering those who appear to reject God with one excuse after another:

"You must convey to a struggling soul that the answer for everything is with Me. He may say that you don’t understand that his problems are grave, complex, and unsolvable. He may cite reasons why he does not follow Me, always blaming others. The answers are all with Me. There is no reason to reject God. No excuse will gain pardon on judgment day. I have never shown a soul unkindness or cruelty. I deserve love, loyalty and respect. Understand My power and you will begin to understand My gentleness. Foolish souls equate gentleness with weakness. It is the truly strong who are wise enough to be gentle. So treat your brothers and sisters gently, particularly those who are not united to Me. They wound so easily. They do not have Me to console them when they are hurt. Can you imagine such loneliness? Would you like to return to a world that did not include Me in any way? Do not even imagine such a thing because I have promised not to let you go. Truly, I will not. But be compassionate. My child, have no fear about your future."

Lay apostles, is there someone or something you make excuses for? Do you make excuses for yourself so you appear to be better than others? Think about it. And, the next time you are about to utter an untruth, remember there will be no excuses on judgement day. Practice and humility is all it takes.

Thank you, Lord, for teaching me that no matter how imperfect I am, You see the real me with such love and compassion!

God bless,
Bonnie

Anne's Latest Talk on Angels

  

Watch this video for Anne's reflection on how the angels can help us to transform and grow in holiness.

 

August 28, 2004

Jesus

My children, you have advanced a great deal with regard to knowledge of your physical world and even in the study of the human body. But what you have discovered and uncovered is but a tip of the limitless body of knowledge that heavenly beings own. They understand how the physical body works and how it stops working. They understand the intimacies of each cell in the human body and with a glance can tell exactly what is wrong with someone who is sick. These angels, who work tirelessly for you and for your world, truly have constant access to the greatest store of knowledge and wisdom. These are good companions to have working alongside you. Your struggles are child’s play to them in the sense that they have the answers to life’s questions. They can advise you and counsel you but they cannot force you. So if you are determined to sin, they cannot stop you. At times, though, they can divert you from an occasion of sin. At other times they can secure a state of disinterest in sin when you are at risk. You will wonder at your disinterest in something that possibly had attracted you in the past. Thank the angels for this grace because they have obtained this state for you through their prayers. They rally support from your friends in heaven and know exactly who to attend for each type of assistance. When you understand how much your angel guardian has done for you in your lifetime, you will be overcome with gratitude, both to your tireless friend and to the God who assigned this little creation of love to you. Thank him and talk to him. You are not like a silly person who imagines things in doing so, but like a very wise man who looks at the universe and understands that he does not understand its secrets. Sit in silence with Me, little ones, and I will give you this wisdom. Pray to the angels and they will obtain it for you.

Click here to order

1 Case = 60 Volume Nine's at 60% off!

You or your prayer group can order these bulk quantities of Volume Nine at a huge discount in order to easily distribute these Volumes to others. This is a way to get the messages out to people at low cost. We are trying to reach out to as many people as we can.

Truly, most people do not pay for their first Volume. They are given it as a gift. This Volume Nine bulk activity will allow prayer groups and other lay apostles to have access to the Volumes and give them away at little or no cost to themselves. A person receiving a Volume is then invited to become a part of the mission.

 For more information click HERE


  

 

For European orders contact the Irish office: contactus@dfot.ie or +353 (0)49 4373040 

Have you been blessed through the Volumes? Please help others receive these words by donating a dollar a day. Your donation makes a big difference. 

 

Direction for Our Times (DFOT) is a 501(C)(3) non-profit organization dedicated to spreading God's messages as revealed in the Volumes.

Choices With Wisdom

Do you remember the movie Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade? Action-packed Harrison Ford movie . . . adventures you would never catch this squeamish-at-the-sight-of-anything-slimey-hopping-or-slithering kind of girl in close proximity to. Sitting safely in a movie theater or on the couch in the comfort of my own home makes it a virtual adventure and I can handle that! So, what was it about todays Gospel (Luke 6:12-16) that made me think of Indiana Jones? Basically, Jesus prayed about who would be His Twelve Apostles. He didn't just randomly pick from all His followers. He prayed for God's guidance in making the right decision . . . to do the Father's Will. There is a line in this movie which I find quite profound and related to todays Gospel:

Grail Knight: But choose wisely, for while the true Grail will bring you life, the false Grail will take it from you.

By Jesus choosing the Twelve He did, God's plan unfolded perfectly. Through His death and resurrection, we are saved:

Jesus went up to the mountain to pray, and he spent the night in prayer to God. When day came, he called his disciples to himself, and from them he chose Twelve, whom he also named Apostles: Simon, whom he named Peter, and his brother Andrew, James, John, Philip, Bartholomew, Matthew, Thomas, James the son of Alphaeus, Simon who was called a Zealot, and Judas the son of James, and Judas Iscariot, who became a traitor.

In Anne a lay apostle's book Lessons in Love, she describes beautifully how choosing wisely leads to living (and thriving in) a life for Christ:

"Young men and women of God, choose wisely. Ask yourself if the person you are dating is willing to view marriage through the eyes of Christ, never mind living it out that way. If the person you are dating does not share this sacramental view of marriage, how can we expect him or her to exercise it later? If the person you are dating does not view the formation of children with the most reverent sense of responsibility, how can we expect them to exercise it fully as a parent? Such cruel disappointment God’s children experience in unwise marriages, and yet, such humility from suffering and such miraculous healing of many marital unions."

Lay apostles, just as Christ called upon Our Father in heaven when He had to make some important choices, we must do the same. Pray for wisdom. Pray for the right answers. Choose wisely.

Thank you, Lord, for the lessons when I have chosen hastily and the graces when I have made choices after discussing it with You!

God bless,
Bonnie

Labeling Hypocrisy

What exactly is the meaning of hypocrisy? According to Dictionary.com, it means:

A pretense of having a virtuous character, moral or religious beliefs or principles, etc., that one does not really possess.
Years ago, as this apostolate began to show me how to have an intimate relationship with Jesus, there were some people who didn't appreciate the new me. As I was trying to become holier, the old Bonnie still emerged at times. I remember someone calling me a hypocrite every once in a while when I slipped back into old patterns instead of being the humble lay apostle I was striving to become. It felt like all my hard work would be dismissed over one slip. But what it taught me was I was being watched . . . and I must practice what I preach!

The Gospel (Luke 13:10-17) shows Jesus teaching the leader of a synagogue about hypocrisy:

Jesus was teaching in a synagogue on the sabbath. And a woman was there who for eighteen years had been crippled by a spirit; she was bent over, completely incapable of standing erect. When Jesus saw her, he called to her and said, "Woman, you are set free of your infirmity." He laid his hands on her, and she at once stood up straight and glorified God. But the leader of the synagogue, indignant that Jesus had cured on the sabbath, said to the crowd in reply, "There are six days when work should be done. Come on those days to be cured, not on the sabbath day." The Lord said to him in reply, "Hypocrites! Does not each one of you on the sabbath untie his ox or his ass from the manger and lead it out for watering? This daughter of Abraham, whom Satan has bound for eighteen years now, ought she not to have been set free on the sabbath day from this bondage?" When he said this, all his adversaries were humiliated; and the whole crowd rejoiced at all the splendid deeds done by him.

In Anne a lay apostle's book Lessons in Love, she reminds us to remain true to who we are:

"Because we serve in our humanity, it is true that we will not always set the example that either we or Jesus desires but let us strive to consider always, in our words and actions, what kind of example we are giving to others. There are some who position themselves around the place of the divine will, never entering, but claiming always to possess the attributes of the Architect of this place. These are the thieves and brigands. Suddenly, the word hypocrisy springs to mind. We must remember to be authentic. If we are having a hard time in holiness, we should not try to give the impression that we are worthy of canonization. Now the word humility springs to mind. If we are humble, we are proceeding in truth."

Lay apostles, at times we can become quite irritated with the actions of others and lash out. But what are we really irritated with? Is it something we see in ourselves being recreated in front of our eyes by someone else? Is it someone who says one thing and does another? Whatever it is, stay humble. We are all imperfect. Stay focused on the path to holiness.

Thank you, Lord, for the gift of humility. Continue to lead me on the path of holiness, leaving hypocrisy behind. Living my truth makes life so much easier!

God bless,
Bonnie

How Do You Fill The Void?

The "God" hole. Something we are always trying to fill with everything other than God. For some it's alcohol; some sugar; some accumulation of wealth and material things. But the more we buy or consume, the heavier the weight we carry around on our shoulders. What can a bigger house, fancier car or heftier bank account do besides look good on the outside when the inside is barren? Build your spiritual wealth first. Build the Kingdom of God.

In todays Gospel (Luke 12:13-21), Jesus warns of acquiring too many earthly possessions:

Someone in the crowd said to Jesus, "Teacher, tell my brother to share the inheritance with me." He replied to him, "Friend, who appointed me as your judge and arbitrator?" Then he said to the crowd, "Take care to guard against all greed, for though one may be rich, one's life does not consist of possessions." Then he told them a parable. "There was a rich man whose land produced a bountiful harvest. He asked himself, 'What shall I do, for I do not have space to store my harvest?' And he said, 'This is what I shall do: I shall tear down my barns and build larger ones. There I shall store all my grain and other goods and I shall say to myself, 'Now as for you, you have so many good things stored up for many years, rest, eat, drink, be merry!'" But God said to him, 'You fool, this night your life will be demanded of you; and the things you have prepared, to whom will they belong?' Thus will it be for the one who stores up treasure for himself but is not rich in what matters to God."

In Anne a lay apostle's book Lessons in Love, she lovingly describes why we need to lighten our load:

"In order to truly enter into the heart of Jesus, we must serve Him in the way He needs us to serve. This is another way of saying that we must reduce our commitment to self-will and replace it with commitment to divine will. Often we pay lip service to this but do not really abandon our own plan. Jesus says that the door is narrow. I think that means that we cannot get through it if we are carrying too much of our own stuff. If we are laden down, we are bulky and we simply cannot squeeze through. What makes us bulky? I believe that things like attachment to the opinions of others, addictions, materialism, pride, greed, anger, holding on to hurts ... carrying things like these add weight and girth to us. I believe that we all spend time standing outside the door knowing that we are called to enter but remaining unwilling to let go of some things. Many of us, I think, are squeezing through a little at a time, making wonderful progress by gradually letting go of the things that prevent complete entry into the Lord’s Sacred Heart. A pertinent part of that passage is the Lord’s encouraging us to make every effort."

Lay apostles, take a look at your life. What extra baggage are you carrying around on a daily basis? Anger? Greed? An oppressive relationship? How can you lighten your load today? If you start with baby steps, eventually you find yourself in a fast sprint to Jesus. And, He is waiting for your arrival in His loving arms!

Thank you, Lord, for helping me to fill my void with only You, letting go of things which were breaking my back. Please help those in difficult situations see Your Light and run toward it.

God bless,
Bonnie

The Power of Temptation

Temptation.  Such an ugly word. None of us are immune to evil's seduction.  Temptation may present itself when we are at our weakest.  And our weakest can be when our lives are right on track.  We become complacent thinking we have it all under control.  Before long, temptation creeps in, upsetting our version of normal.  The grass begins to look a little greener on the other side. Whether it be in our careers, marriages, or families, temptation can create a desire so strong it can lure us away from what is right.  The fight between good and evil has been around since Adam and Eve.  Eve knew it was against God's direction to pick the apple from the tree.  Yet, evil convinced her otherwise. We are no different than Adam and Eve.  But, due to modern technology, temptations have become more accessible in the privacy of our own home.  Good 'ol free will.


With free will comes choices.  There is a great line in the movie Little Black Book, "Omission is betrayal."  If you feel like you have to lie or hide something, think twice about it before you make a mistake with irrevocable consequences.  Society is so fixated on making ourselves "feel" better despite outcomes.  Addictions, affairs (emotional and physical) and other poor choices we make only satisfy our perceived needs temporarily.  Our "truth" is whatever makes us feel better.  Fellow lay apostles, we must always follow God's Truth, not our own.

Todays Gospel (Luke 11:15-26) reinforces the need to combat temptation with Jesus in mind . . . always:

When Jesus had driven out a demon, some of the crowd said: “By the power of Beelzebul, the prince of demons, he drives out demons.” Others, to test him, asked him for a sign from heaven. But he knew their thoughts and said to them, “Every kingdom divided against itself will be laid waste and house will fall against house. And if Satan is divided against himself, how will his kingdom stand? For you say that it is by Beelzebul that I drive out demons. If I, then, drive out demons by Beelzebul, by whom do your own people drive them out? Therefore they will be your judges. But if it is by the finger of God that I drive out demons, then the Kingdom of God has come upon you.
When a strong man fully armed guards his palace, his possessions are safe. But when one stronger than he attacks and overcomes him, he takes away the armor on which he relied and distributes the spoils. Whoever is not with me is against me, and whoever does not gather with me scatters.

“When an unclean spirit goes out of someone, it roams through arid regions searching for rest but, finding none, it says, ‘I shall return to my home from which I came.’ But upon returning, it finds it swept clean and put in order. Then it goes and brings back seven other spirits more wicked than itself who move in and dwell there, and the last condition of that man is worse than the first.”

In Anne a lay apostle's book The Mist of Mercy, she beautifully illustrates where temptation comes from:

"But many of God’s children have wandered further and further away from truth and the enemy is making fools of them. We must accept that God’s enemy wants only our destruction. The enemy of God has an agenda for us that includes unhappiness and eternal despair. The enemy sends temptation. When a person falls prey to a temptation and commits a sin or even merely an action that pulls the soul from goodness, the enemy exults. The enemy mocks humanity and works tirelessly to sow seeds of restlessness and anger, frustration and bitterness. All people should understand that just as God loves, the devil hates."

Today, let's choose God's truth. If you are in the middle of something you know could be detrimental to a loved one, stop. Stop and do the right thing. It's not always easy, but when you choose good over evil, He will provide the graces needed to get you through.

Thank you, Lord, for helping me to choose Your Truth. Evil can hit me with its best shot, because I have no fear with You in my corner!

God bless,

Bonnie

Thank You Lord For Guardian Angels!

Angels. Beautiful celestial beings God has supplied to protect us. Today we celebrate the Memorial of the Guardian Angels. This beautiful prayer comes to mind:

"Angel of God, my guardian dear, to whom God's love commits me here, ever this day (or night), be at my side, to light and guard, to rule and guide. Amen."

Sometimes I forget my Guardian Angel is around. I'm taking the longer periods of "quiet" as an indicator I am making some good choices lately. Believe me, there are times I believe all of heaven fires a million warning shots only to have me ignore my conscience and make choices based on what makes me feel better . . . not what is best for my soul. My dear angel has worked overtime in the last 40 years, and saved my life a few times in the process.

When I was a freshman at Western State College in Gunnison, Colorado, I was driving over Monarch Pass home to Denver for spring break. Three other people were on board. As I came to a two-laned hairpin curve, I slowed down, and with one hand held the wheel while the other hand ejected the cassette tape (no cracks about age here!) to change the music. At that instant, the passenger in the front seat grabbed the wheel (we were about to go off a very steep cliff) and I slammed on the brakes. The combination sent my car rolling.

This may be the exact spot I rolled! If not, you get the idea!

As you can see in the pic, it was either go off the cliff or slam into the mountain. Only by the grace of God, there was a place to pull off the side of the road to sightsee where my car landed. I ended up with a broken nose, but thank the Lord everyone else was ok. I can imagine my Guardian Angel petitioning very quickly to move a mountain . . .

Todays Gospel (Matthew 18:1-5, 10) creates awareness of how much God loves us. So much so he assigns each an angel:

The disciples approached Jesus and said, "Who is the greatest in the Kingdom of heaven?" He called a child over, placed it in their midst, and said, "Amen, I say to you, unless you turn and become like children, you will not enter the Kingdom of heaven. Whoever humbles himself like this child is the greatest in the Kingdom of heaven. And whoever receives one child such as this in my name receives me. "See that you do not despise one of these little ones, for I say to you that their angels in heaven always look upon the face of my heavenly Father."

The following quote profoundly affected my oldest daughter and me when we read the following message from Jesus in Volume Nine:

"The angels surround you, My dear ones. They minister to you in so many ways that I could not clearly explain this to you. I am going to give you some idea of these heavenly friends, however, so that you will understand the strength on your side. When you attend Mass you are praying and worshipping with thousands of angels. Your guardian angel goes with you, of course, and is so grateful for the opportunity to rest in the heavenly companionship of his fellow angels. These beings of light pay rapt attention and take such joy in praising Me. Truly, each church is filled with angels. When you enter a church and find it empty, that means that you can see no other human. But there are angels present and they welcome you as they welcome your angel guardian. This loyal servant of Mine, your special guardian, prays for you without interruption. When you are safely on the path to heaven, this angel then begins to petition heaven for greater and greater spiritual gifts. Your angel can communicate with the saints in heaven and often seeks out their intercession for you. When you are working with your angel and with the saints, you will find yourself making sublime spiritual progress because the gifts being secured are of the deepest and sometimes most indiscernible variety. You are often making progress that you do not feel, little soul, but your angel is watching it closely. When something threatens your spiritual progress, your angel attempts to warn you. He does this in many ways. You often hear whisperings, what many call your conscience. This is your angel attempting to persuade you that whatever you are considering will be bad for your cause. Your angel can anticipate danger so you should always ask him to be alert and assist you."

Lay apostles, after I read the above quote years ago, every time I brought someone to Mass who really didn't believe or want to be there, I knew I was giving their Guardian Angel time for heavenly companionship. Can you imagine the scene if we were allowed a glimpse? The next time you are dragging your teenager, a friend, or a lost relative to Mass, think about his/her angel's thankfulness for the effort. Ignore the annoyance and know his/her angel is petitioning heaven for the soul they are assigned.

Thank you, Lord, for my dear Guardian Angel. I am working on listening to the warnings instead of debating them!

God bless,
Bonnie

Anne Speaks on Guardian Angels

Today is the feast of the Guardian Angels. How do they help us? In Volume Nine the Blessed Mother speaks about Angels assisting us with our thoughts. Watch the video for Anne's comments on this and read the text below. Enjoy! 

 ....Angels from heaven, direct my path


Play the video to listen to Anne speaking about Angels assisting us with our thoughts.

Click here to order

1 Case = 60 Volume Nine's at 60% off!

You or your prayer group can order these bulk quantities of Volume Nine at a huge discount in order to easily distribute these Volumes to others. This is a way to get the messages out to people at low cost. We are trying to reach out to as many people as we can.

Truly, most people do not pay for their first Volume. They are given it as a gift. This Volume Nine bulk activity will allow prayer groups and other lay apostles to have access to the Volumes and give them away at little or no cost to themselves. A person receiving a Volume is then invited to become a part of the mission.

 For more information click HERE

Blessed Mother

September 8th 2004 

My children, how often I have looked upon you, surrounded by God’s angels but feeling so alone. These angels have soft little hearts and they grieve with you when you are sad. So often they seek to comfort you with heavenly thoughts but you do not accept these ideas. Allow these beautiful thoughts into your hearts and you will feel the consolation with which the angels seek to bless you. Again I say, and I understand that I am repeating myself, you must spend time in silence so that we can place these lovely thoughts in your hearts. You understand that communicating with heaven is not like communicating with earth. We do not shout, usually, and you must listen with your soul. In days past, there was not this constant noise. Children, think about why the enemy never leaves you in peace. It is like a child’s attempt to distract someone so that bad news cannot be communicated about him. When you feel distracted, and feel your peace is slipping from you, ask yourself how much time during that particular day you spent in silence, contemplating God. I am certain that it was not enough. So find silence. Seek it out. Value it. Understand that this is not wasted time, but the most important time of your day. 

 

For European orders contact the Irish office: contactus@dfot.ie or +353 (0)49 4373040 

Have you been blessed through the Volumes? Please help others receive these words by donating a dollar a day. Your donation makes a big difference. 

 

Direction for Our Times (DFOT) is a 501(C)(3) non-profit organization dedicated to spreading God's messages as revealed in the Volumes.

Total Abandonment!

You have to be willing to give it all up, including your own life. Following Christ means total abandonment from worldly possessions . . . disconnecting from earthly pleasures and comfort. I'm not suggesting giving up your home, car, or job. Nor am I suggesting martyrdom. Free yourself from attachment to "things," even from people. Sometimes life doesn't go the way you anticipated. Couples get divorced. Parents die. Children move away. Jobs are lost. Houses go into foreclosure. When we put too much emphasis on the importance of these circumstances . . . things, life can erupt and throw you into a tailspin. But if we are focused on Jesus, we begin to understand things happen in life. And, we learn to trust He is in control. This, in turn, creates calm and peace within. Follow Him. Do His Will. Then let Him take care of everything else.

Todays Gospel (Luke 9:57-62) shows how important it is to let go and follow Christ:

As Jesus and his disciples were proceeding on their journey, someone said to him, "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." And to another he said, "Follow me." But he replied, "Lord, let me go first and bury my father." But he answered him, "Let the dead bury their dead. But you, go and proclaim the Kingdom of God." And another said, "I will follow you, Lord, but first let me say farewell to my family at home." Jesus answered him, "No one who sets a hand to the plow and looks to what was left behind is fit for the Kingdom of God."

In Heaven Speaks to Young Adults, Jesus explains the simplicity of following Him:

"Dear soul, it is only through unity with Me that you will have true peace. The world offers you darkness of spirit. Look closely at those who follow the world. Do they have peace? Are they loved? Do they sit calmly with others and allow others to speak, understanding that each soul is precious? You will find, I am sure, that those following the world are cynical. This suits them because if they are cynical they can justify their selfishness. Reject this. Reject cynicism. There are many Christians in your world and these followers of Mine are not cynical. They are warm and loving and kind. And this is what I want for you. So I love you and you love others. It is very simple."

Lay apostles, what keeps you focused on the world and not heaven? Money? Ego? A failed marriage? What can you do today, despite the hectic pace of the world, to detach from earthly comforts? I am trying to listen more, love more, and most importantly, keep my eyes on Jesus and His Will.

Thank you, Lord, for all the blessings my slow detachment from "things" has brought. I know I still struggle, but it is becoming easier by the day.

God bless,
Bonnie

Describing Jesus

It's very easy to quote Scripture, to be "book smart" when describing Jesus. It's easy to talk about His work and life on earth with love and adoration. It's easy to describe His kind nature, His healing touch. We can quote Canon Law, we can quote the Catechism of the Catholic Church. But if you don't practice what you preach, it falls on deaf ears. In todays Gospel (Luke 9:18-22), Jesus is teaching the apostles that namedropping is not allowed:

Once when Jesus was praying in solitude, and the disciples were with him, he asked them, "Who do the crowds say that I am?" They said in reply, "John the Baptist; others, Elijah; still others, 'One of the ancient prophets has arisen.'" Then he said to them, "But who do you say that I am?" Peter said in reply, "The Christ of God." He rebuked them and directed them not to tell this to anyone.

He said, "The Son of Man must suffer greatly and be rejected by the elders, the chief priests, and the scribes, and be killed and on the third day be raised."

Jesus wants us to exude Him in how we think, speak and act. Don't judge the level of faith or poor choices of another. As the old saying goes, walk a mile in my shoes . . .

In Anne a lay apostle's book Serving in Clarity, she brilliantly describes Jesus, and, lives her life as Jesus would want of all His servants:

"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."

Lay apostles, read, read, read. Then, practice, practice, practice. What can you do today to witness your love of Christ? Not judge another's mistakes? Defend the unborn? There are so many ways to describe Jesus in our actions. Start practicing today.

Thank you, Lord, for teaching me in addition to describing You, I must exude You, too.

God bless,
Bonnie