A Solid Foundation

Time with my grandson Colton is very precious to me . . . especially since I don't watch him during the week anymore (his baby sister was born in September!). A few nights ago I got this bundle of love for a few hours while mommy, daddy and baby sister did some running around. We decided to take his wagon out for a lap around the neighborhood. I loaded him into the wagon (along with around 5 of his favorite toy cars) and off we went. He is putting sentences together so well now, we actually had a conversation! As we strolled along, we discussed the yellow car, blue car, and black truck in the driveways we passed. He wanted to go out on the dock which stretches over a small lake in our neighborhood to see if we could find any alligators, fish, ducks, or birds. As I knelt down next to him while we peered through the wood planks of the dock trying to spot a fish, I saw this baby boy holding on to me and began thanking Our Lord for an opportunity of experiencing this little piece of heaven on earth. My heart was overflowing with love and gratefulness for the solid foundation God has instilled in me over the years. I vowed to make sure my little bubba (and our other three precious gifts from God) have the same solidity with Him, too. 

Todays Gospel (Matthew 7: 21, 24-27) is plain and simple . . . don't just say you are a Christian, act like one:

Jesus said to his disciples: “Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the Kingdom of heaven, but only the one who does the will of my Father in heaven.

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

In Volume Two, Jesus reminds us how we must work and serve in union with Him:

"My children, I would like you to become dependable friends to Me. I want to rely on you. You are wondering what that means so I will tell you. It is true, I am walking with you. I am sharing your life and worries. Your business is My business and I help you with everything. No detail is too small for you to share with Me and seek assistance. You find
Me there, always. You know I never leave you. You are only being wise to have this confidence in Me, My child, because it is a confidence that rests on the rock of truth. I am that rock and I am that truth. In the same way, with every allowance made for both your frail humanity and your earthly duties, I want you to walk with Me. I would like to know that you will come to Me every day in prayer. We begin a journey together and then you disappear from Me. I remain with you, of course. I am your God and will not leave you. But We must finish the work We begin. Do not be haphazard about your time with Me. You are busy and I understand because it is often I who have given you your duties. But if you do not have time to pray to Me, there is something amiss in your life and I want it sorted out immediately. I need you. You are My friend and I need My friends to be faithful right now. So do not come and go anymore. Please, stay united to Me so that We can work together on the tasks left undone by others. My child, you must understand that when you come to Me in prayer, if only for a moment, I am consoled. My
heart is comforted, which allows Me to give you untold graces, of course, but also, your prayer allows Me to soften My justice toward others who never seek Me. When you meet Me face to face, you will see clearly every happiness you have caused Me. I need you and so appreciate any fidelity offered to Me."

Lay apostles, what does your faith foundation look like? Is it solid like a rock, just a sandy mess, or somewhere in between? It's never too late to begin building a strong, solid relationship with Christ. Jesus gives perfect directions in the quote above from Volume Two. Go to Him in prayer . . . bring comfort to Our Savior and He will shower you with graces galore!

Thank you, Lord, for the solid foundation You have developed within me through this apostolate. I pray my faith brings Your Precious Heart at least a little comfort!

God bless,
Bonnie

Born From Above

We just found out last Friday while in DC we are going to have another perfect baby boy join our growing family! 

Not exactly what my daughter Mallorie wanted to hear . . . but two boys will be much more cost effective for her little family! My step-daughter Christine text the most beautiful words after finding out the sex of her new nephew: "The world needs good men, obviously God has faith in her skills :)." Mallorie was comforted by those words . . . and I couldn't have said it any better! Everything is born from above, and He always knows what's best for us! Looks like "Mimi and Papa Camp" is going to be filled with football, basketball and fishing . . . time to start improving my skills!

Todays Gospel (John 3:1-8) helps us understand God is in control:

There was a Pharisee named Nicodemus, a ruler of the Jews. He came to Jesus at night and said to him, “Rabbi, we know that you are a teacher who has come from God, for no one can do these signs that you are doing unless God is with him.” Jesus answered and said to him,
“Amen, amen, I say to you, unless one is born from above, he cannot see the Kingdom of God.”  Nicodemus said to him, “How can a man once grown old be born again? Surely he cannot reenter his mother’s womb and be born again, can he?” Jesus answered, “Amen, amen, I say to you, unless one is born of water and Spirit he cannot enter the Kingdom of God. What is born of flesh is flesh and what is born of spirit is spirit. Do not be amazed that I told you, ‘You must be born from above.’ The wind blows where it wills, and you can hear the sound it makes, but you do not know where it comes from or where it goes; so it is with everyone who is born of the Spirit.”

In Volume Six, Mary (an unknown saint) speaks to parents about what is truly important when we are blessed with a child(ren):

"When a child is born and is laid in his mother’s arms, he does not wonder how many rooms are in his home. He feels safe and warm and is content. That child is brought home. Again, he is not concerned with how big his house is, rather, he is concerned that when he cries, his mother responds. The child begins to grow and look around. Still, he does not say, “Why don’t I have a big house? Why don’t I have an expensive car to drive in?” He looks to his parents for guidance in this area and if his parents are content with what that family has, then the child understands that there is no reason to complain. If a parent is discontent and always longing for something better or something more, the child feels he, too, has been shorted. Mothers, please set a tone of thanksgiving for what you have, regardless of how humble are your possessions. Your child will do the same and you will set the course for a lifetime of contentment, rather than a lifetime of greed and covetousness. I must speak about clothing. Again, if you do not entertain thoughts of bitterness that your clothes are not as fine as the next person’s, your child will  think nothing of it. When he comes home and says that other children have better clothing than he does, you must say that in heaven nobody looks at clothing and begin to praise the beauty of your child’s soul and the lovely virtues that are developing."

Lay apostles, we have so much work to do!!! As parents (or grandparents, aunts/uncles, etc), we must teach our little blessings about virtues, about love, about goodness, about Jesus. The world is full of negativity and criticism. Let's continue to build an army of lay apostles who will change the world by shining His Light! Are you with me?

Thank you, Lord, for the blessing of two grandsons on this earth and two new little babies on the way. Help me to teach and guide them in Your Ways! Who knows, maybe another boy destined for the priesthood? ;-)

God bless,
Bonnie