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

Don't Be Confused

Love and respect. Kindness and compassion. Faith, hope and charity. Words every person, let alone every Christian, should exude. I think some people are becoming confused, or maybe it's just plain ol' fear of not fitting in when standing up for Christ. Could it be some of our youth (or millennials as they are now called!) in this country didn't have role models practicing Christian values? What kind of examples were set or are being set for our children and grandchildren? Who is to blame for this lack of faith blatantly blasted at us on all the liberal news stations? The answer is, we only have ourselves to blame. Yes, we are influenced by our childhood. Yes, our parents unknowingly (and in some cases knowingly) contributed to how we think and assess situations, ourselves and others. But once we become adults, there are no more excuses. We can make the necessary changes needed in our lives by the choices we make every day. Let's begin today by showing no fear when protecting Our Lord's sacred name. As a matter of fact, we must stop being silent when our sweet Jesus is slandered or mocked. He is a God of mercy . . . clear up any confusion or fear within first. Pick up a Volume and get to know Him. Open the Bible to learn about His short life on this earth. Love Him as He loves us.

Todays Gospel (Luke 9:7-9) shows Herod very confused about who Jesus is . . .

Herod the tetrarch heard about all that was happening, and he was greatly perplexed because some were saying, "John has been raised from the dead"; others were saying, "Elijah has appeared"; still others, "One of the ancient prophets has arisen." But Herod said, "John I beheaded. Who then is this about whom I hear such things?" And he kept trying to see him.

In Volume Three, Our Lady teaches us to seek the good, not be confused, and trust in her Son:

"My dear souls, dedicated to Jesus, I wish to teach you more about goodness. Goodness comes from God. All goodness is rooted in heaven and blooms on earth. Your world is filled with a false goodness, that is really malice, disguised. Your world speaks of choice and lauds the choice of the individual. Well, this is fine, if a soul is choosing God. But to choose against the natural order, set down by God, is to bring the wrath of God down upon the world. These people are not working for goodness and their motives are not good. Do not feel compelled to pay homage to the modern concept of good any longer. Instead, ask the Holy Spirit to help you identify true goodness, the kind that is rooted in heaven, and the Spirit will direct you to examples. This same spirit of truth, will uncover the dark motives and malice of those who talk about good and work for bad. Now, do not be confused or concerned. When you see these individuals spouting their lies, you have felt confusion and suspicion. It is that suspicion I wish to direct your attention to. Pay attention to those feelings and trust a little bit more in your holy instincts. Look at the fruits of various campaigns. Does a certain approach bear good fruit? And by that I mean does it bring souls into a unity with each other and with the Creator? You are not secular, dear ones. Please do not try to be."

Lay apostles, don't let lies and venomous words confuse, causing doubt in God. Rely on your holy instincts as Our Lady states above. Don't react, pray for the offenders. And just remember, What Would Jesus Do?

Thank you, Lord, for patience and compassion for those spouting evil and hate. Please continue to provide me with Your shield of hope and forgiveness.

God bless,
Bonnie

Shake the Dust From Your Feet

My mother used to always say, "if you can't say anything nice, don't say anything at all!" Easier said than done, right? Well, with a little practice (ok, A LOT of practice!), it truly becomes easier to not say anything unless what comes out of our mouth is the Truth. If we practice speaking the Truth, there will always be naysayers. There will always be those who don't want to change . . . who don't want to give up "things" or behaviors to follow Christ. It's the path less traveled. When we interact with those not desiring to improve and grow, we must pray for them, and demonstrate the joy we achieve in following Him. I choose to keep learning and growing in every aspect of my life. How about you?

In todays Gospel (Luke 9:1-6), Jesus instructs us to "shake the dust from your feet" when others are not ready or willing to live a life following Him:

Jesus summoned the Twelve and gave them power and authority over all demons and to cure diseases, and he sent them to proclaim the Kingdom of God and to heal the sick. He said to them, “Take nothing for the journey, neither walking stick, nor sack, nor food, nor money, and let no one take a second tunic. Whatever house you enter, stay there and leave from there. And as for those who do not welcome you, when you leave that town, shake the dust from your feet in testimony against them.” Then they set out and went from village to village proclaiming the Good News and curing diseases everywhere.

In Volume One, Jesus asks us to be a shining example of His Love to others:

"You, My chosen souls, must provide that guidance and direction. That is why you will be placed in contact with many souls. Speak My name freely and lovingly. Speak My name naturally in your conversation. Speak My name often, and do not use it to curse others. If these souls, who are directionless because of the failure of many of My children to provide that direction, hear My name spoken lovingly and respectfully, their hearts will jump up, like John the Baptist’s heart jumped in his mother’s womb. They will know that it is their Savior who is being spoken of so lovingly. And they will be watching you, dear soul, to see what you do, how you act, speak, and treat others. These souls, given a small bit of direction, will follow you. They will not need years of calling, as I have called to many of you for years. They seek only the correct direction and they will walk toward Me without falter. Can you imagine, My dear ones, how I grieve that so many of them are not living the life of the Christian? And can you imagine how many souls, destined to be called then by them, have been left in the world? Do you see, little ones, how every soul
is so critical to My kingdom? We do not want our brothers and sisters abandoned, for the want of your duty being fulfilled. How blessed are you that you have been called, indeed, and given these messages. Little child, you are a Christian because someone fulfilled their duty. Now you must fulfill your duty and call out to others in love and solicitude. Leave nothing undone that could bring a soul to Me. Let those of the world scoff at you, if they dare. The inhabitants of heaven commend you. If you hear My name spoken in ridicule or anger, turn away, praying to Me for the forgiveness of that person. Then, instead of your God being unwelcome and ridiculed in that situation, He will
be honored. That, My child, is, in summary, what I am calling you to do. Be joyful. Be glad. You are My chosen one and My favor and Spirit rests upon you."

Lay apostles, it is so important to remember we can only affect others by living the life we preach. There are so many in darkness . . . and we must shine His Light always. But we must also stay in motion and not get stuck when one person is not quite ready to climb up that mountain with us. Know Jesus will use every ounce of our hard work to change a life . . . in His time, not ours!

Thank you, Lord, for giving me the grace to truly shake the dust from my feet when I feel ineffective in leading others toward You.

God bless,
Bonnie

It's Time For Action

There are times in our life when we feel beaten down . . . whether we feel we are not good enough, smart enough, faithful enough, or you-fill-in-the-blank enough. Despite how others treat us, we only have to please one Person . . . Christ. We are always good enough for Him. Think about it this way . . . who are the people consistently loving and supporting you? There is usually nothing you wouldn't do for them in return, right? Fight for them, love them, comfort them. So why do we treat Our Heavenly Father with sporadic trust? As Christians, we must walk the walk. And, not just occasionally. It's time for action my dear fellow lay apostles. It's time to give Him our complete attention and trust, just as we do for those we love on earth.

In todays Gospel (Luke 8:19-21), Jesus makes a very clear point: it's easy to talk the talk, but you also have to walk the walk: 

The mother of Jesus and his brothers came to him but were unable to join him because of the crowd. He was told, “Your mother and your brothers are standing outside and they wish to see you.” He said to them in reply, “My mother and my brothers  are those who hear the word of God and act on it.”

In Volume One, our Blessed Mother advises her children on earth to take action:

"Remember to pray, children. In this way, every action throughout your day can be sanctified. Think of all the small tasks you complete, barely giving any thought to them. If you offer them to us with love, we can use even the smallest action for the salvation of sinners. It is time now to pay attention. Do not put our words down and forget them. I want you to act in obedience to our words and let them change your life. It will feel like the most natural thing in the world, this transition to holiness. Once you make the decision, begin to pray. Once you begin to pray, obedience will come naturally. After obedience, we can move you swiftly to great levels of holiness. My dear one, you will then see the coming of God’s kingdom." 

Lay apostles, young or old, it is never too late to be a part of God's Renewal. Strive to do His Will and continue on the path to salvation. You can change your life.  I did.  Accept the fact you are worthy of His Love and make peace with your past. Once you do, you will be amazed at all the beauty despite the thorns.

Thank you, Lord, for quick recoveries and a joyful spirit.  Your spiritual bulletproof armor is working perfectly.

God bless,
Bonnie

Mercy Over Sacrifice

Let's start with two definitions (from Dictionary.com):

1. Mercy - compassionate or kindly forbearance shown toward an offender, an enemy, or other person in one's power; compassion, pity, or benevolence

2. Sacrifice - the surrender or destruction of something prized or desirable for the sake of something considered as having a higher or more pressing claim

Now, let's read todays Gospel (Matthew 9:9-13): 

As Jesus passed by, he saw a man named Matthew sitting at the customs post. He said to him, "Follow me." And he got up and followed him. While he was at table in his house, many tax collectors and sinners came and sat with Jesus and his disciples. The Pharisees saw this and said to his disciples, "Why does your teacher eat with tax collectors and sinners?" He heard this and said, "Those who are well do not need a physician, but the sick do. Go and learn the meaning of the words, I desire mercy, not sacrifice. I did not come to call the righteous but sinners."

After reading this, I decided to do as Jesus asks . . . "Go and learn the meaning of the words . . ." By definition, I completely understand what Jesus means. Mercy is forgiving and sacrifice is suffering. Which is the more difficult challenge? Hands down, forgiving offenders. I would gladly suffer for Christ, my children, grandchildren and all those I love. I would stand in front of a bullet for them . . . die for them. There is no suffering so great it could deter me from protecting what is most important in my life. But the whole mercy thing . . . why is it so hard to forgive our offenders? And, how do we forgive those who continually want to disrupt our lives? Mercy. Jesus desires this of us. By using the word "desires" in Scripture today, Jesus is basically declaring He knows we aren't perfect and we won't always get it right. However, if we are doing our best to be merciful, He will be pleased. So, many times I refrain from rebuttal emails which could only cause more unrest or just plain keep my opinion to myself . . . and pray for the person disrupting the peace I work so hard to maintain!  

What brings me peace . . . my husband, our children and grandchildren! 

In Heaven Speaks to Those Who Struggle to Forgive, Jesus shows us by having mercy for others, we obtain mercy for ourselves:

"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, did you offend someone today? Apologize. Were you offended? Have mercy. Did you make a poor choice you regret? Accept it and forgive yourself. Do as Jesus desires . . .

Thank you, Lord, for giving me words of wisdom, showing me the value of mercy is priceless. Please continue to redirect my thoughts when I want so badly to debate!

God bless,
Bonnie

It's Hard To Stay Delightful

Guest Blogger: Annie!

As a teenager I always used to pride myself on being extremely good at not judging people. It was my favourite Catholic teaching, one I felt that the Church could do with advertising a little better– you know, let’s talk less about hellfire and damnation and start hyping up the peace-and-love part of the Catechism. I was well versed in not judging people for bad attitudes, past mistakes or poor life decisions; none of it fazed me. God loved them and me and everyone and we were all sinners and all saints and all together, lalalala, hi I’m basically a hippie.

Enter college. I wasn’t exactly prepared for some certain social challenges of a small, Catholic, American university. (If you went to a small Catholic American university, you may see where this is going.) There was a small group of people that seemed to take an instant dislike to me, for reasons that evaded my understanding, because as my mom tells me, I’m delightful. But it’s hard to stay delightful when people are looking you up and down and you can FEEL them judging your clothes, your appearance, your language, everything about you, before they even open their mouths to assure you with false kindness that that is exactly what they are doing. I just could not be Catholic, or pure, or good enough for these people. The unfairness of it drove me insane and I retaliated to the hate vibes by labeling them with my friends as hypocrites and meanies and something that rhymes which clucking glass bowls (I shall preserve the integrity of Bonnie’s blog by not even rhyming some of the other words I may have used!) It took me a while to realize what had happened, and when I finally did I actually burst out laughing at myself; I had become what I loathed by being just as judgmental as they were. The Gospel today (Luke 6:39-42) talks about the importance of focusing on fixing our own flaws and not micro-analyzing everything our neighbours are doing wrong:

Jesus told his disciples a parable: “Can a blind person guide a blind person? Will not both fall into a pit? No disciple is superior to the teacher; but when fully trained, every disciple will be like his teacher. Why do you notice the splinter in your brother’s eye, but do not perceive the wooden beam in your own? How can you say to your brother, ‘Brother, let me remove that splinter in your eye,’ when you do not even notice the wooden beam in your own eye? You hypocrite! Remove the wooden beam from your eye first; then you will see clearly to remove the splinter in your brother’s eye.”

The thing is, if your brother was walking around with literally a giant wooden beam in his eye, how hard would it be not to notice??? I mean, come on, that’s probably the first thing you’d see! It’s probably unpleasant and very distracting to look at. Likewise with other people’s shortcomings, they can be, frankly, really annoying, and it’s hard not to judge on that level. But nobody likes to be on the receiving end of “that person” and we have to be careful about not allowing such an experience to make us become “that person.” The good news is we don’t have to be blind; we can be fully trained, loving disciples instead of the word that rhymes with glass bowls. 

The Monthly Message from May 2009 is really consoling and instructive in this area:

"My children, your work stretches out before you. How many serve? How many resist My will for them? When you consider others who do not seem to be serving Me, I want you to turn your face away. I want you to consider only My will for you in a given moment. This will protect you from many temptations. You can answer Me with simplicity when I ask you at the end of the day, 'Have you served Me well today?' You can simply say, 'Yes, Lord. I have done My best.' Then you can lay down your worries and rest. Beloved apostles of God, do not be distracted by others. I know this is hard for you. I know that others can cause you upset. But if you consider how I have asked you to experience others, you will do better. I want you to view those around you as pilgrims journeying toward Me. That is what you are, after all. Can you deny others the need to move gradually to perfection when you, yourself are doing the same? You are involved in a process which means that you remain imperfect. Why would it be different for those around you? You have come to trust My loving compassion, My forgiveness and My uninterrupted affection. That is because you have come to know Me. If others do not know Me as well as you do, they will trust Me less. If they trust Me less, they will experience fear and this will cause them difficulty which moves out from the fear to greater and greater pain. If My apostles will accept that fear of being unloved is the source of great pain for others, My apostles will view the mistakes of others with compassion, as I do. Yes, the pain of humanity can only be remedied by loving compassion. This is why you are sent out by Me. You move into the world with heaven’s healing compassion. My apostles, perhaps you do not feel this compassion from others. Perhaps you feel that you are in need of compassion and find only condemnation. I make two remarks about this. One, please be willing to ask for understanding from other holy apostles and then accept what they offer to you in humility. Next, ask Me if I am judging you. Ask Me if I view you harshly. You know that I do not. I am pleased with whatever you offer Me in terms of fidelity and service. I am pleased with whatever you give to Me in terms of prayer and silence. I work so well in your little soul when you allow Me. I feel the greatest compassion for you. I am happy with your efforts to be holy and to love those around you. I rejoice in you. I rejoice in your commitment to Me. I urge you today in the most serious way to trust Me and trust in My plan for you."

What a great way to look at other people. Jesus basically says it perfectly here, and I think this advice is pretty solid, and something I definitely want to work on. Basically, haters gonna secretly crave affection, and if someone is judging you? The best response is love and kindness.

God bless,

Annie

Grace By the Case: Volume Nine: Anne Speaks on Angels

This is the second video in a series of several on the Angels. Enjoy!

Play the video to listen to Anne speaking about Angels.

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

Jesus

August 25th 2004 

My children who seek the Light are surrounded by heavenly beings. These beings, My angels, seek My will. There is no darkness in them. They do not sin. They do not serve one day and abandon the Divine Will the next day. They know Me and worship Me. Because they have a great depth of heavenly knowledge, they can anticipate heaven’s wishes and heaven’s designs. They know exactly what I am seeking in each situation. They know exactly what will bring a soul closer to perfection in each moment. Therefore, their counsel and direction is perfect. They do not steer a soul away from Me. They could not. They seek only the Divine Will. As such, My dear children, they are the perfect companions for you. You must remember them and remember their presence. They have illumination that you do not have. So you may be uncertain on how to proceed in a given moment. You should ask your angels for counsel, understanding that the way they direct you will be My way and the best way for you, given every single circumstance in your life. Angels can read souls at a glance. They recognize unsuitable companions. Ask your angel to protect you from relationships that will pull you away from Me. There are times when this is very important and you should always be aware that your companions will influence you. Ask the angels to protect your children and to help your children find suitable companions. Every wise parent knows that children are influenced by their companions and if a child’s friends are not following a path that leads to Me, their own child will be diverted. This is a serious risk for children and adults. Keep holy company, My dear ones. The angels will help you. 

 

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The Divine Healer

Jesus heals all wounds . . . eventually. Although the "eventually" is not His fault, it's my own ego hard at work. We all do battle with darkness when we have been wounded by another. After reading todays Gospel (Luke 6:27-38), I know I have come a long way. A younger me would have poo-pooed most of what Jesus is saying, without the slightest hesitation. My immature mind couldn't dismiss the wrongs or mistreatment. But I get it now. I'm going to use a phrase my husband says in times of wrongdoing: hurt people, hurt people. So next time someone wounds your precious heart, remember the words of Christ in this Gospel. Do it for Him. Resist the urge to get revenge; resist the temptation to spew hatred back. Allow our Divine Healer tend to your heart first. Then, ask Him to heal your offender. Here it is, straight from the lips of Our Lord:

Jesus said to his disciples: “To you who hear I say, love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, bless those who curse you, pray for those who mistreat you. To the person who strikes you on one cheek, offer the other one as well, and from the person who takes your cloak, do not withhold even your tunic. Give to everyone who asks of you, and from the one who takes what is yours do not demand it back. Do to others as you would have them do to you. For if you love those who love you, what credit is that to you? Even sinners love those who love them. And if you do good to those who do good to you, what credit is that to you? Even sinners do the same. If you lend money to those from whom you expect repayment, what credit is that to you? Even sinners lend to sinners, and get back the same amount. But rather, love your enemies and do good to them, and lend expecting nothing back; then your reward will be great and you will be children of the Most High, for he himself is kind to the ungrateful and the wicked.
Be merciful, just as also your Father is merciful.

“Stop judging and you will not be judged. Stop condemning and you will not be condemned. Forgive and you will be forgiven. Give and gifts will be given to you; a good measure, packed together, shaken down, and overflowing, will be poured into your lap. For the measure with which you measure will in return be measured out to you.”

In Anne a lay apostle's book Serving in Clarity, Jesus reminds us He is the Healer of all wounds:

"I know what lifts your heart, My beloved one. I know what consoles you and gives you comfort. In the same way, you understand what consoles Me, what lifts Me and gives Me comfort. Shall I remind you? Love. Love gives Me solace in a time when there is great hatred. I look to you and I see suffering, yes, pain, of course, but also love. I see that you suffer for Me and this sustains Me. I see your sacrifices and I see your wounds, and yet you continue to serve your King. You do not melt away into the world as others have. You do not allow your heart to be hardened as some do. You work constantly to allow Me access as the Divine Healer. I require constant access to your little heart, it is true, but you give that to Me through your time in prayer and your willingness to be honest in assessing your actions and motives. Dearest apostle, walk with Me as one of My guards of honor. I love you immeasurably. I will care for everything and I will never fail to sustain you. Bring Me your fears constantly, in every moment. I will eradicate them. If you walk closely with Me, you will exert less effort and I will sow a heavenly garden in your soul as we proceed."

Lay apostles, what are you waiting for? Are you carrying a grudge from an old wound? A recent wound? Pray to Jesus right now. Ask Him to mend your heart and give you the grace needed to forgive. It takes a lot of practice and dedication to heal old wounds. But it can be done! I am living proof it does get better the more I cling to Christ and pray for those who offend. The only way I can describe it is like this: it's as if there is a protective shield in front of me when daggers are being thrown. I can hear what is being said but my heart is completely protected. I mistakenly step in front of that shield once in a while (quickly realizing I am unprotected!) and let the pointy little suckers penetrate my heart. But it's not too long before Our Lord swoops in to save it. I just have to let Him!

Thank you, Lord, for truly being my Divine Healer. My life is so different now . . . since I let You completely in!

God bless,
Bonnie

Love Over Money

Love over money, any day, hands down. I have known very wealthy people who have it all, but possess no compassion or desire to help those in need. On the contrary, I've witnessed the same attitude in those with financial difficulties, even though compassion is given free of charge.  But then there are the struggling young couples I've been blessed to know living paycheck to paycheck with so much love for each other they continue to persevere, working toward a common goal. And, the affluent so generous not only financially, but volunteering whenever and wherever a need arises. After reading todays Gospel (Luke 6:20-26), I feel blessed to have a roof over my head and food in my refrigerator. I am encouraged to increase my efforts to help the poor and needy, whether it be with an extra donation or committing more time. Every one of us, no matter what our state in life may be, have the ability to provide relief of some means to any of God's children. Relief can mean feeding the hungry in a soup kitchen, or loading an elderly woman's grocery bags into her trunk at the supermarket. As I have said in the past, do all for His Glory. Not for kudos, not for status, not for show. Just do it for Him. Give in His Name with no expectations, only love. Your reward will be great in heaven.

From Luke 6:

Raising his eyes toward his disciples Jesus said: "Blessed are you who are poor, for the Kingdom of God is yours. Blessed are you who are now hungry, for you will be satisfied.
Blessed are you who are now weeping, for you will laugh. Blessed are you when people hate you, and when they exclude and insult you, and denounce your name as evil on account of the Son of Man. "Rejoice and leap for joy on that day! Behold, your reward will be great in heaven. For their ancestors treated the prophets in the same way. But woe to you who are rich, for you have received your consolation. But woe to you who are filled now, for you will be hungry. Woe to you who laugh now, for you will grieve and weep. Woe to you when all speak well of you, for their ancestors treated the false prophets in this way."

In the December 2011 Monthly Message, Jesus cheers us on with His hope and encouragement:

"Dear apostles, it is with hope that I come to you today, speaking these words to your heart. I am hoping that the plans I have for your life will come to fruition. 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. Sometimes, I bring these gifts directly into your soul. Sometimes I send these gifts to you through the soul of another. I am saying that sometimes you will be the recipient of My gifts and sometimes you will be the one delivering My gifts. We are so united, you and I. We are together now and when you are finished on earth you will understand how closely I worked with you."

Lay apostles, I know how busy life can be. So, search for the moments Jesus places in your path to make someone's day a little brighter. Share the gifts He has bestowed upon you to draw others to His loving arms. How else will those who don't know Christ ever discover the Truth. Spread the messages in the Volumes or Heaven Speaks booklets whenever you can. One thing I did . . . I was in Las Vegas for a business trip years ago and brought a stack of Heaven Speaks About Addictions and Heaven Speaks to Those Who Suffer From Financial Need. I tried to leave them scattered throughout the casino . . . ;-)

Thank you, Lord, for encouraging words of love and showing me the importance of using the gifts You have given me for Your Glory. Please help me to remain alert to those in need.

God bless,
Bonnie

Sunshine Amidst the Downpour

A few years ago, as I was working in my home office, it began to rain. I'm talking downpour. Oddly enough, the sun was shining the entire time. It was such a beautiful sight, I stopped writing to enjoy that brief moment in time. I used to focus on the downpour (rain and flat ironed hair do not mix!), now I notice the sun and am soothed by the storm. Think about life as a Christian. Jesus wants us to understand He is always with us, in the darkest of storms and on bright, sunny days. Negative people will always be in our lives trying to upset us, demean us, or persecute us no matter how kind and loving we are. They see our joyfulness which only enhances their state of misery. How do we handle people trying to "catch" us, ready to condemn? Well, we have two choices. Either fall into the darkness they so desperately want us to share, or, rely on Jesus and the joy faith in Him provides, offering love and compassion. Understand offering love and kindness doesn't guarantee the same in return. But, I aspire to see the sunshine amidst the downpour and soothing sound of the rain. I pray those in darkness choose to do the same someday.

In todays Gospel (Luke 6:6-11), Jesus chooses to heal a man despite the hatred of those trying to "catch" Him as evidence to persecute Him:

On a certain sabbath Jesus went into the synagogue and taught, and there was a man there whose right hand was withered. The scribes and the Pharisees watched him closely to see if he would cure on the sabbath so that they might discover a reason to accuse him. But he realized their intentions and said to the man with the withered hand, "Come up and stand before us." And he rose and stood there. Then Jesus said to them, "I ask you, is it lawful to do good on the sabbath rather than to do evil, to save life rather than to destroy it?" Looking around at them all, he then said to him, "Stretch out your hand." He did so and his hand was restored. But they became enraged and discussed together what they might do to Jesus.

In Anne a lay apostle's book Lessons in Love, she affirms we must strive to see through condemnation from others:

"We see that the Pharisees were looking to condemn. Remember that this is the opposite of what Jesus did. Jesus looked to save. We must look for evidence of hope and potential in those around us. Some search constantly for evidence of unholiness in others. I think this might be their way of trying to fuel or protect their superiority or obtaining value for themselves in an unhealthy way. Superiority is something that requires constant feeding, like an addiction. Just as a cigarette smoker needs a nicotine fix periodically, a superiority addict needs to look down on someone periodically. Anyone will do."

Lay apostles, it is so easy to fall into the negative behavior of loved ones, friends or co-workers. Even the negative behavior of a salesperson in the mall. When confronted by someone trying to tear me down or ruin my mood, I try to think of the hurt or pain this person is suffering from causing the nastiness. Maybe they don't have Jesus to comfort them. Maybe they don't have the love of family to cushion the fall. We have no idea where this person has been, even if it is someone living in our own household. So, love unconditionally and don't hold condemnation from others internally. More than likely, the reaction is from an open wound and they don't know how or haven't taken the time to heal it. Shine a little sunshine. Shine Jesus Christ.

Thank you, Lord, for teaching me to look past condemnation to the hurt behind the words. And for compassion when others only want to see me fall.

God bless,
Bonnie

The Struggling Servant

Guest blogger today is Annie, and boy is she on point:

Does anybody remember a few years ago when Swine flu was all the rage in the media? Did anybody else get that? Well, I took that little fad quite seriously, and not being one to do things halfway, I got it three times. Yes, three. My crap autoimmune system just thought it was the most exciting thing ever, so I stayed sick with it for about nine months. I remember that year on my birthday, two good friends standing by my death-couch wearing smiles that looked more like grimaces, one holding a candle-lit cake that I could not eat and the other holding a gift wrapped bottle of Chloraseptic throat spray. Happy birthday! A few years later, in college, I was in the hospital busily having a stomach surgery to get diagnosed with Crohn’s disease (you know, just your average college student) and they wouldn’t let me eat solid food for a full week. I like to think I dealt with that about as well as Mother Teresa might have . . . if Mama T had owned a cell phone and been the kind of gal to repeatedly throw it against a wall and howl at her friend to give it back so she could throw it again until somebody fed her, and by the way, was it time for more painkillers yet? (Somebody once saw me with low blood sugar, then went home and invented the word “hangry” to describe the scene. It caught on.)

My point is, I am the kind of person who actually worried when Ebola hit the headlines. I know my way around a hospital and probably took more sick days in high school than days where I actually attended (I can mentally picture my year head nodding vigorously in agreement with that statement). That’s why todays Gospel (Luke 4:38-44) was particularly consoling for me, and I think anybody with an experience of illness could draw comfort from it:

After Jesus left the synagogue, he entered the house of Simon. Simon’s mother-in-law was afflicted with a severe fever, and they interceded with him about her. He stood over her, rebuked the fever, and it left her. She got up immediately and waited on them.

At sunset, all who had people sick with various diseases brought them to him. He laid his hands on each of them and cured them. And demons also came out from many, shouting, “You are the Son of God.” But he rebuked them and did not allow them to speak because they knew that he was the Christ.

At daybreak, Jesus left and went to a deserted place. The crowds went looking for him, and when they came to him, they tried to prevent him from leaving them. But he said to them, “To the other towns also I must proclaim the good news of the Kingdom of God, because for this purpose I have been sent.” And he was preaching in the synagogues of Judea.
Simon’s mother-in-law stands out a lot in this Gospel passage. I love that her first instinct upon being cured was to get up and start serving those around her. We should all try to be more like Simon’s mother-in-law, serving Christ cheerfully, and less like the clingy crowds who don’t have enough faith to let Jesus carry on with His work and focus on our own. (Says the girl who literally wailed at a chocolate cake commercial when she had to go gluten free. Whatever, I’m working on it!) Whether you’re afflicted by a physical illness, a mental disturbance, or a circumstantial hardship, this message reassures that there is no problem that God cannot diminish if you ask Him for help. The following message from Volume One further affirms the promise that we will be taken care of, and underscores the value in our suffering:

“I am with you, child. I feel your weakness and sickness and will adjust your responsibilities accordingly. This will pass. Offer your suffering to Me so that I can nourish souls, especially souls who are in error and in danger of falling away. My heart aches for them. They feel they have been abandoned, yet it is they who have abandoned the true faith. Suffer willingly for them, little one. We must draw them back with goodness and joy. A true follower of Mine is joyful and serene. When you see Christians who claim to be following Me, but they are sad and morose, you should be alert. Despair and depression do not come from Me. My followers are given hope and a lightness of spirit, despite difficulties. If you, yourself, notice you are feeling sad more often, it is because you are not connected to Me through prayer and the sacraments. Be vigilant about your faith and you will not falter. I am with you. I will never leave you. Ask Me for courage and courage will be yours.”

The first thought in my mind upon reading this passage was “Adjusted responsibilities?!?! YESSS!!!!!!” But I think the point is also to have faith in God’s plan and wisdom, as well as His ability to lift your burden when the time is right. We are advised to suffer cheerfully, willingly, serenely, joyfully, and hopefully . . . Oh, kind of like Simon’s mother-in-law I guess. (And kind of less like me in the hospital!) If this seems impossible, maybe remember that sometimes struggling is serving, and all you have to do is your best. Aim for at least willing, then, work on cheerful!

Annie

The Smallest Gap

All it takes is the smallest of gaps for havoc to erupt in a situation filled with love and joy. People get rushed or things take longer than expected. Instead of slowing down and explaining the delay or asking for clear expectations, assumptions are made. Frustration builds and disarray ensues. Evil lurks, waiting for a small crack to invade harmony. All we need to do is call on the name of the Lord to bring order back . . . and be willing to take a look at our own actions to assess the part we played in the confusion.

Todays Gospel (Luke 4:31-37) demonstrates the power of Jesus in turning hearts and minds:

Jesus went down to Capernaum, a town of Galilee. He taught them on the sabbath, and they were astonished at his teaching because he spoke with authority. In the synagogue there was a man with the spirit of an unclean demon, and he cried out in a loud voice, "What have you to do with us, Jesus of Nazareth? Have you come to destroy us? I know who you are--the Holy One of God!" Jesus rebuked him and said, "Be quiet! Come out of him!" Then the demon threw the man down in front of them and came out of him without doing him any harm. They were all amazed and said to one another, "What is there about his word? For with authority and power he commands the unclean spirits, and they come out." And news of him spread everywhere in the surrounding region.

In Anne a lay apostle's book The Mist of Mercy, she describes an experience which brings me comfort when evil tries to work its way into a situation:

"Our Lord showed me a glimpse of one small area of hell at this time. I saw a soul with the ugliest red eyes. They are vacant, devoid of all humanity. They are evil. This demon’s eyes locked onto something and for a moment I thought it was me but he went right past me and began to assault another one such as himself. They are fighting constantly here. They are assaulting each other. They are molesting each other. They are shaming and humiliating each other. They are in the right place. I felt no fear as they cannot hurt us and I know it."

Lay apostles, so much hurt and pain can be diffused when we acknowledge where the feelings of negativity are rooted. Does delay in service make you feel less important? Do hurtful words sting because there is an essence of truth to them? As we learned in kindergarten, if you don't have anything nice to say, don't say anything at all. Don't let evil sneak in and ruin the joy and protection Christ gives to His children. Love one another and talk it out.

Thank you, Lord, for quick resolutions to unnecessary upset. I am in awe of how fast You turn things around with prayer!

God bless,
Bonnie

September's Monthly Message is here!

We continue our cycle of monthly messages for 2015 with the message from September 1, 2007 for our prayer groups and personal reflection.  

Jesus

Dear apostles, I send you a spirit of gentleness. Because you are called to treat others as I treated others, you are called to be gentle with all those around you. This call to gentleness in no way diminishes the call to live in the truth. If you preach the truth as I did, gently, you will draw others to us and to unity of thought and action. In this time, when it is so important that souls be brought back into the family of God, we must be ever so careful to be gentle with others in each interaction. I am Jesus. I am filled with love for each soul you encounter, regardless of their condition. View each person through My love and treat them with My gentleness. My dearest apostle, in order to allow yourself to heal from any wounds you yourself suffer, you must allow Me to minister to you. I am tender hearted with your failings. Remember this and do not turn away from Me when you feel you have failed. If you do not allow Me to minister to you during periods of unrest, you will be vulnerable to the distortions which can be sown by the enemy. Apostles walking with Me inspire hope in the world. This is the plan. But My friends must remember that apostles walking with Me also inspire fear in the enemy. The enemy’s fear causes him to lash out at the friends of the Returning King. Be at peace in this as it has always been this way and there is no reason for anything but confidence in My plan for each day of every life. At the same time, be prepared to do battle for your holiness as I did battle. If you remain with Me, the battles will make you stronger and holier. That is My goal. Accept the gentle ministrations of your Savior in silence and you will then be an able carrier of this gentleness to others. Beloved friends, so loyal to your God, you will stand out if you are gentle and it is this that I need from you. I need you to stand out as calm and gentle representatives of the different way. The world will remember you for your gentleness if you allow Me to teach you. You are not called to change the world. I am called to change the world. You are called to represent Me accurately so that I have the opportunity with each soul you encounter. Through your love, your kindness and your gentleness, you will create heavenly opportunities for Me in the people around you. I will never miss an opportunity, I promise you. I make the best possible use of your efforts. I thank you, dear friend. Your fidelity to the Father will not be forgotten.