A Diehard Fan

*Note: Reposting from last year. And, yes, another rebuilding year for the Bears!

There are so many wonderful things Jay has brought to our relationship . . . faith, trust, love, and the Chicago Bears. He is a diehard Bears fan. Every Sunday after Mass this year, I opened my Bears iPhone app to find kickoff time. Unless it was Monday Night Football or they were playing an east coast team, the radio was all we had. In Fort Myers, there are two restaurants/sports bars boasting Home of the Chicago Bears. We chose to watch the game this time at a place called The Edison. This was a big game determining if the Bears were going to the playoffs. And, they were playing the Packers. The place was packed inside and out. We fit right in with our Bears gear on in a sea of orange and blue (there were a few brave sorts wearing green and gold . . .). After a very exciting but disappointing game, Jay solemnly said as we walked to our car, "Bears fans have broad shoulders and we are used to this. It was another rebuilding year." Gotta love a fan!

Todays Gospel (John 1:19-28) brought to mind the commitment we must all make to Christ despite the random disappointments or difficulties in life:

This is the testimony of John. When the Jews from Jerusalem sent priests and Levites to him to ask him, “Who are you?” He admitted and did not deny it, but admitted, “I am not the Christ.” So they asked him, “What are you then? Are you Elijah?” And he said, “I am not.” “Are you the Prophet?” He answered, “No.” So they said to him, “Who are you, so we can give an answer to those who sent us? What do you have to say for yourself?” He said: “I am the voice of one crying out in the desert, ‘Make straight the way of the Lord,’ as Isaiah the prophet said.” Some Pharisees were also sent. They asked him, “Why then do you baptize if you are not the Christ or Elijah or the Prophet?” John answered them, “I baptize with water; but there is one among you whom you do not recognize, the one who is coming after me, whose sandal strap I am not worthy to untie.” This happened in Bethany across the Jordan, where John was baptizing.

In Anne a lay apostle's book The Mist of Mercy, Jesus explains how our commitment to Him allows His Kingdom to grow:

"Dear apostles, during this time I send you great graces. Everything you need comes from Me. Do not hesitate to answer My call because you feel you are not holy enough. You are called to holiness, it is true, but all genuine holiness comes from Me. If you ask Me I will send it to you in great abundance. I notice that many souls fear a commitment to Me because they see only their flaws and weaknesses. At this time I want you to stop thinking that it is your humanity that gives Me glory. Souls in heaven give Me praise, it is true. And I return their love. But when a soul on earth, acting from faith, makes even the smallest act of love or fidelity to Me, I am given great glory and the family of God is given power. Yes, each time a soul on earth steps out for God in any way, the Kingdom grows. Do not put a limit on the importance of each little act and each little prayer."

Lay apostles, think about something you are deeply committed to. Is it football? Shopping? Exercise? Whatever it is, are you as committed to Jesus? If yes, keep climbing the mountain! If no, 2015 is the year to begin.

Thank you, Lord, for Jay, the Bears, FSU and our commitment to You! Help us to continue to improve our prayer life and shine Your Light to all we meet.

God bless,
Bonnie

Monthly Message for January 2015!

We continue our cycle of monthly messages for 2015 with the message from January 1, 2007 for our prayer groups and personal reflection.  January 1, 2007 (2015) Jesus I, Jesus, take delight in My apostles. I look into the world and see My friends, serving each other and growing in love and, truly, I experience delight. My friends, you will be well rewarded. The holier you become, the easier it will be for you to come to heaven. That is My goal for you, that you become so holy on earth that your death is a time of great peace and joy. How I anticipate the homecoming of each of My beloved servants. I plan for the day and prepare for the great rejoicing that will take place. You will be welcomed into eternity by a multitude of apostles, all of whom served before you. You will recognize your friends and family in heaven and they will assemble to greet you. Such joyous reunion. Such well-earned reward. My friends, your life will pass quickly, far more quickly than you can imagine. I speak to you today to remind and encourage you. I remind you that you are committed to Me, to My will. Begin each day remembering that you have made a commitment to serve heaven on that day. If you pledge your allegiance to God, you are on the side of God. If you are on the side of God, you are working against God’s enemy. I want you to reject all that comes from the enemy. Be diligent about your time in silence and I will reveal anything that I wish you to reject or abandon. I draw you into My heart, further and further. There is always a need to advance. Today, I call you to make an even greater commitment to advancing in holiness. I will help you, of course. I will make your path even more obvious to you. I come today to remind you of your pledge, but also to encourage you. I look into the world at this time and there is darkness, it is true, but there is also light and that light comes from your commitment to Me. The angels see your service and they rejoice. The saints see your service and they applaud. Our mother, Mary, sees your service and she is comforted. I, Jesus Christ, see your service and I experience delight. You are part of a team, My team. We are the team that brings salvation and we do that through love. In your heart I am placing a love for humanity. You will experience this love individually, for each person with whom you come in contact. This is how I experience love. I love all mankind. I do so one person at a time. You must do the same. Love those around you, particularly those in your family. Treat each person with dignity and respect because if people see that you are good, they will understand that I am good. Be at peace. I am with you in everything and your service delights Me.

September Monthly Message

No better way to start the month than reading the Monthly Message from Jesus . . . and, a visit from Anne, a lay apostle! Loved our visit, albeit short! 

We continue our cycle of monthly messages for 2014 with the message from September 1, 2006 for our prayer groups and personal reflection.

September 1, 2006 (2014)

Jesus

A deep peace settles upon those who serve the Lord. This interior peace, heaven’s presence, connects each apostle to their Saviour. I work in each soul without interruption if that soul welcomes Me. Around the apostle, circumstances change. Others come and go in their life and perhaps there is suffering or persecution. My presence remains constant, though, comforting, consoling, and directing. The connection between heaven and each apostolic servant is the avenue through which I return to the world. How heaven delights in each commitment. During this time many look to their Saviour and know with certainty that I am calling out to them. Each apostle hears My call. You have heard My call. Consider today what your Jesus is asking of you. Consider how I am asking you to serve today. Dearest apostle, I must insist that you spend time in silence contemplating My will. I must insist upon this because I require your service in whatever way I have willed for you during this time. If you give Me your full attention for a period of time each day, I can instruct you and prompt you. Also, I can give you a very important heavenly attribute and that is the peace that I need you to possess. You must possess this for your own comfort, of course, but you must also possess this peace so that it flows through you into the world. Your world does not have peace. My peace has been rejected by your world. You, My beloved apostles, reject the world’s discord and accept My peace. That is why you are so important to Me. I am your Beloved One. You feel My presence, do you not? Truly, I am with you. Dear apostle, I want to be with everyone in this way. Will you help Me? I know that you will. Spend time with Me in silence each day and I will provide you with everything you need and everything the world requires.

A Diehard Bears Fan

There are so many wonderful things Jay has brought to our relationship . . . faith, trust, love, and the Chicago Bears. He is a diehard Bears fan. Every Sunday after Mass this year, I opened my Bears iPhone app to find kickoff time. Unless it was Monday Night Football or they were playing an east coast team, the radio was all we had. In Fort Myers, there are two restaurants/sports bars boasting Home of the Chicago Bears. We chose to watch the game this time at a place called The Edison. This was a big game determining if the Bears were going to the playoffs. And, they were playing the Packers. The place was packed inside and out. We fit right in with our Bears gear on in a sea of orange and blue (there were a few brave sorts wearing green and gold . . .). After a very exciting but disappointing game, Jay solemnly said as we walked to our car, "Bears fans have broad shoulders and we are used to this. It was another rebuilding year." Gotta love a fan!

Todays Gospel (John 1:19-28) brought to mind the commitment we must all make to Christ despite the random disappointments or difficulties in life:

This is the testimony of John.  When the Jews from Jerusalem sent priests and Levites to him
to ask him, “Who are you?” He admitted and did not deny it, but admitted, “I am not the Christ.”  So they asked him, “What are you then? Are you Elijah?”  And he said, “I am not.” “Are you the Prophet?” He answered, “No.”  So they said to him, “Who are you, so we can give an answer to those who sent us?  What do you have to say for yourself?” He said: “I am the voice of one crying out in the desert, ‘Make straight the way of the Lord,’ as Isaiah the prophet said.”  Some Pharisees were also sent.  They asked him, “Why then do you baptize if you are not the Christ or Elijah or the Prophet?”  John answered them, “I baptize with water; but there is one among you whom you do not recognize, the one who is coming after me, whose sandal strap I am not worthy to untie.”  This happened in Bethany across the Jordan, where John was baptizing.

In Anne a lay apostle's book The Mist of Mercy, Jesus explains how our commitment to Him allows His Kingdom to grow:

"Dear apostles, during this time  I send you great graces. Everything you need comes from Me. Do not hesitate to answer My call because you feel you are not holy enough. You are called to holiness, it is true, but all genuine holiness comes from Me. If you ask Me I will send it to you in great abundance. I notice that many souls fear a commitment to Me because they see only their flaws and weaknesses. At this time I want you to stop thinking that it is your humanity that gives Me glory. Souls in heaven give Me praise, it is true. And I return their love. But when a soul on earth, acting from faith, makes even the smallest act of love or fidelity to Me, I am given great glory and the family of God is given power. Yes, each time a soul on earth steps out for God in any way, the Kingdom grows. Do not put a limit on the importance of each little act and each little prayer." 

Lay apostles, think about something you are deeply committed to. Is it football? Shopping? Exercise? Whatever it is, are you as committed to Jesus? If yes, keep climbing the mountain! If no, 2014 is the year to begin. 

Thank you, Lord, for Jay, the Bears and our commitment to You! Help us to continue to improve our prayer life and shine Your Light to all we meet.

God bless,
Bonnie