Some days, I'm just not feeling it. I'm either too tired or just plain lazy. And I'm really good at convincing myself it will be ok if I just skip it one day. Alas, one day turns into two, and well, you know how the snowball effect works. About 3 months ago, my perpetual laziness (well, I did have a mile worth of steps on my iPhone health app usually every day!) was beginning to show up in ways never experienced . . . worsening insomnia, joint soreness, and all-day tiredness. Wow! The joy of aging! So, I kicked my own butt and pulled out my old standbys: Jillian Michaels, Jeanette Jenkins, and Kathy Smith DVDs. I probably have over 15 workouts to choose from. I had been ignoring those stacks sitting by my TV as if invisible for quite a while. Better health was always just one DVD away for me. Action on my part was all it took to move in the right direction.
It's like Jesus in today's Gospel . . . He is there 24/7, yet we tend to call out His name only in times of desperation . . . when all else fails or things aren't going the way we expected. We must strive to be consistent with our prayers and conversations to and with Him. Feel His presence. Even if you aren't feeling it, believe it. He is waiting for you to speak His name. As for me, I think I see a kickboxing DVD with my name on it for tonight . . .
In today's Gospel (John 20:1-2, 11-18), Jesus reminds us to stop "weeping" and start believing:
On the first day of the week, Mary Magdalene came to the tomb early in the morning, while it was still dark, and saw the stone removed from the tomb. So she ran and went to Simon Peter and to the other disciple whom Jesus loved, and told them, “They have taken the Lord from the tomb, and we don’t know where they put him.”
Mary stayed outside the tomb weeping. And as she wept, she bent over into the tomb and saw two angels in white sitting there, one at the head and one at the feet where the Body of Jesus had been. And they said to her, “Woman, why are you weeping?” She said to them, “They have taken my Lord, and I don’t know where they laid him.” When she had said this, she turned around and saw Jesus there, but did not know it was Jesus. Jesus said to her, “Woman, why are you weeping? Whom are you looking for?” She thought it was the gardener and said to him, “Sir, if you carried him away, tell me where you laid him, and I will take him.” Jesus said to her, “Mary!” She turned and said to him in Hebrew, “Rabbouni,” which means Teacher. Jesus said to her, “Stop holding on to me, for I have not yet ascended to the Father. But go to my brothers and tell them, ‘I am going to my Father and your Father, to my God and your God.’” Mary Magdalene went and announced to the disciples, “I have seen the Lord,” and then reported what he told her.
In the Monthly Message from October 2006, Jesus reminds us to not become overwhelmed with the work He has for us:
"My children, I am with you. Your God, your Creator, speaks this message in so many ways. In every daybreak you must hear My voice saying,‘I am with you.’ When tempted toward despair because of crosses and hardships, you must hear My whisper saying,‘I am with you.’ When you look at the work you must do and find it overwhelming, allow Me to move you gently into it with perfect assurance that ‘I am with you.’ Dearest apostles, so brave, I am with you. I do not tell you that you will be overcome. I do not tell you that you have been given work that is impossible for you to complete. Those messages do not come from Me. Instead, I tell you that you will persevere and ultimately triumph. Our mission of mercy does not falter, even though the steps of my little apostles sometimes falter. This mission pushes through the world with a steadiness that defies all attempts against it."
Lay apostles, there are times when a task seems too difficult to achieve. As Jesus says above, bring your concerns to Him and nothing will be impossible to achieve.
Thank you, Lord, for reminding me I can do anything I put my mind to. Give me the strength of body and mind I need to fulfill what You ask of me.
God bless,
Bonnie
It's like Jesus in today's Gospel . . . He is there 24/7, yet we tend to call out His name only in times of desperation . . . when all else fails or things aren't going the way we expected. We must strive to be consistent with our prayers and conversations to and with Him. Feel His presence. Even if you aren't feeling it, believe it. He is waiting for you to speak His name. As for me, I think I see a kickboxing DVD with my name on it for tonight . . .
In today's Gospel (John 20:1-2, 11-18), Jesus reminds us to stop "weeping" and start believing:
On the first day of the week, Mary Magdalene came to the tomb early in the morning, while it was still dark, and saw the stone removed from the tomb. So she ran and went to Simon Peter and to the other disciple whom Jesus loved, and told them, “They have taken the Lord from the tomb, and we don’t know where they put him.”
Mary stayed outside the tomb weeping. And as she wept, she bent over into the tomb and saw two angels in white sitting there, one at the head and one at the feet where the Body of Jesus had been. And they said to her, “Woman, why are you weeping?” She said to them, “They have taken my Lord, and I don’t know where they laid him.” When she had said this, she turned around and saw Jesus there, but did not know it was Jesus. Jesus said to her, “Woman, why are you weeping? Whom are you looking for?” She thought it was the gardener and said to him, “Sir, if you carried him away, tell me where you laid him, and I will take him.” Jesus said to her, “Mary!” She turned and said to him in Hebrew, “Rabbouni,” which means Teacher. Jesus said to her, “Stop holding on to me, for I have not yet ascended to the Father. But go to my brothers and tell them, ‘I am going to my Father and your Father, to my God and your God.’” Mary Magdalene went and announced to the disciples, “I have seen the Lord,” and then reported what he told her.
In the Monthly Message from October 2006, Jesus reminds us to not become overwhelmed with the work He has for us:
"My children, I am with you. Your God, your Creator, speaks this message in so many ways. In every daybreak you must hear My voice saying,‘I am with you.’ When tempted toward despair because of crosses and hardships, you must hear My whisper saying,‘I am with you.’ When you look at the work you must do and find it overwhelming, allow Me to move you gently into it with perfect assurance that ‘I am with you.’ Dearest apostles, so brave, I am with you. I do not tell you that you will be overcome. I do not tell you that you have been given work that is impossible for you to complete. Those messages do not come from Me. Instead, I tell you that you will persevere and ultimately triumph. Our mission of mercy does not falter, even though the steps of my little apostles sometimes falter. This mission pushes through the world with a steadiness that defies all attempts against it."
Lay apostles, there are times when a task seems too difficult to achieve. As Jesus says above, bring your concerns to Him and nothing will be impossible to achieve.
Thank you, Lord, for reminding me I can do anything I put my mind to. Give me the strength of body and mind I need to fulfill what You ask of me.
God bless,
Bonnie
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