One Big Family

I have a very dear friend who grew up Catholic and through marriage, became Mormon. A few years ago he flew into Florida for my daughter's wedding, gracing us with his presence in our home for the weekend.  This was about a month before Heavenly Healing was published.  As we were discussing the testimonies in my book and this apostolate in general, he stopped me mid-sentence.  He said, "I love my faith but I just can't imagine you won't be going to heaven, Bonnie." I wasn't sure what he meant and he explained.  As a Christian and a Catholic, I believe we all find our way to Christ through different avenues, hopefully ending up at the pearly gates of heaven together.  We need to remember God loves all His children, despite the path chosen. He has great hope for us all.  We must strive to love as He loves, brushing away the differences.   

In todays Gospel (Matthew 12:46-50) Jesus assures all who do the will of His Father belong in His family:

While Jesus was speaking to the crowds, his mother and his brothers appeared outside, wishing to speak with him. Someone told him, "Your mother and your brothers are standing outside, asking to speak with you." But he said in reply to the one who told him, "Who is my mother? Who are my brothers?" And stretching out his hand toward his disciples, he said, "Here are my mother and my brothers. For whoever does the will of my heavenly Father is my brother, and sister, and mother."

In Volume Three, God the Father asks us to serve all in His family:

“My servants must be prepared to serve in whatever place I call them. They must serve whatever people I require them to serve. My servants may be called at any time to do whatever the Kingdom requires. This is the way it is in a family. You are in My family. As members of the heavenly family, you are to be interested in the welfare of the other members, your brothers and sisters. Children of the Light, consider each and every soul on this earth your brother and sister. Your concern should be how to bring each soul on earth home to heaven with you. “This is far too big, Father,” you say. Well, dear little one, that is My goal. And because it is My goal, it must be your goal. A good child, an obedient child, always looks out for the interests of his Father. And that is what My servants must do. Now instead of finding this a frightening, overwhelming task, I want you to say, ‘This task will be an easy thing, because My Father will do all of the work. All I need do is rise each day with a spirit of willingness. If I do that, My Father, along with His Son, and the Holy Spirit, and all of the inhabitants of heaven, will work through me in a miraculous way and souls will be saved.’”

Lay apostles, stay focused on serving your brothers and sisters in Christ.  The key point here is love and serve each other without judgement.  Leave the differences for Christ to worry about. After all, we are one big family and will be called home some day.  And I plan on seeing my Mormon friend when I arrive!

Thank you, Lord, for such diversity in my life.  Continue to remind me all Your children are my brothers and sisters. 

God bless,

Bonnie

No Signs, Just Believe

Trespassers. When I see one, I wonder why they feel entitled to intrude on or care less about another's property.  I've been pretty lenient with the kids in my neighborhood walking through my back yard to get to the manmade lake in the development adjacent to my house.  A few months ago I began noticing a large gap amongst the trees and plants develop toward the back of the yard.  I didn't think much about it assuming the hole was created by the guys who came to tame my yard. One day I was sitting on the patio with my daughter and her husband enjoying a cool breeze on a Florida afternoon when we began to hear young giggling voices approaching.  There were about five pre-teen girls from the neighborhood casually walking through my backyard, heading close to this "gap." They didn't see us on the porch until I said hi to them.  They stopped dead in their tracks.  I asked if they had created the pathway in the trees and the oldest of the bunch said no. The next words out of her mouth placed the potential blame on a wild pig for the five foot hole.  Hmmm.  So I asked them to not come through my back yard anymore or go near the hole as I wouldn't want them to get hurt by a wild pig.  After several more signs of them accessing the passageway, I went straight to Home Depot and bought this sign:

Well, my sign worked as far as I know (in addition to barricading the hole with dwarf palms and fallen palm fronds!).  It took posting a sign to stop the trespassing when my original request should have sufficed. No signs, just believe. 

Todays Gospel (Matthew 12:38-42) reminds me when I stop looking for signs and focus on the here and now, I am giving Jesus the time He needs to answer my questions:

Some of the scribes and Pharisees said to Jesus, "Teacher, we wish to see a sign from you." He said to them in reply, "An evil and unfaithful generation seeks a sign, but no sign will be given it except the sign of Jonah the prophet. Just as Jonah was in the belly of the whale three days and three nights, so will the Son of Man be in the heart of the earth three days and three nights.

In the July 2007 Monthly Message, Jesus clearly defines how we are to view a world rejecting God and all that is decent: 

“The signs of My presence are all around you, even though you struggle. Believe this. If you look at a person who has rejected Me, you will see signs of that rejection. If you look at a world that has rejected Me, you will also see signs. My beloved ones, when you see signs that God has been rejected, you must remain peaceful. I, Jesus, have told you that change is necessary. I, Jesus, have told you that I desire change. I do not abandon you and I do not abandon the world. I have many friends in this world and you are among them. You trust Me, I know. I will honor the trust you have placed in Me. I will bring all things to the good, both in your life and in the world.”


Lay apostles, instead of asking Jesus for a sign, move confidently through your day knowing He is by your side at all times.  Just because you ask for something, doesn't mean you are ready to receive it. He knows you best, so trust His judgement.


Thank you, Lord, for showing me I don't need signs to believe in You.  


God bless,
Bonnie

Stop Complaining, Start Doing

Teenage girls.  Boy oh boy did my three drive me nuts every once in a while.  Getting them to set the table for dinner, let alone clear the table or do the dishes was torture.  So I created a list rotating between the three tasks.  But when the "clearer" didn't do her job quick enough, the dishwasher wandered off, usually gabbing on the phone with girlfriends.  Then came the complaining from the setter.  She did her job on time so why were the other two able to slack off?  I would then proceed to one of the bedrooms blaring some hip hop song and calmly remind the clearer to get moving so the dishwasher could do her job.  Then by the third reminder, I wasn't so calm.  As soon as a certain tone would come out of my mouth, I'd get the dirty look and the "ok, mom!" irritated growl.  It is a miracle teenage girls, my teenage girls, turned into amazing young women!  I love you my beautiful angels! ;-)

In todays Gospel (Matthew 12:1-8), the Pharisees just couldn't stop complaining:

Jesus was going through a field of grain on the sabbath. His disciples were hungry and began to pick the heads of grain and eat them. When the Pharisees saw this, they said to him, "See, your disciples are doing what is unlawful to do on the sabbath." He said to the them, "Have you not read what David did when he and his companions were hungry, how he went into the house of God and ate the bread of offering, which neither he nor his companions but only the priests could lawfully eat? Or have you not read in the law that on the sabbath the priests serving in the temple violate the sabbath and are innocent? I say to you, something greater than the temple is here. If you knew what this meant, I desire mercy, not sacrifice, you would not have condemned these innocent men. For the Son of Man is Lord of the sabbath."

In Volume One, Jesus asks us to put duty over feelings:

“I want My children to have spiritual discipline. This means you practice your faith regardless of how you feel. There is far too much time spent on feelings today. Duty is more important. My children of the world think that their duties should be suspended if their feelings change. This is not the case, My children. On the contrary, you must complete your duties despite feelings of fatigue, boredom, and restlessness. The enemy uses these feelings to persuade people that they should not serve their loved ones. The world encourages this and does not hold people responsible when they shirk their duties or become lax or lazy. Indeed, even in work My children complain and think they should be given liberty. They begrudge doing their duty in every area of their lives. Only in their personal entertainment do they stop complaining, and that is being taken to excess. Children, this is not the way I intended for you to live. Your duty is holy and in it you will find your path to holiness. When you are unsure about what I want you to do at a given moment, look for your duty. Does it lie with your children, your job, your family, your home, your work? Everyone has a duty and in it you will find the path to your salvation. I want you to have discipline now. Decide, through prayer and conversation with Me, what spiritual practices you need to adopt. Then you must be disciplined about these practices.”

Lay apostles, simple tasks such as washing the dishes or mowing the yard are not exactly entertainment (although I do love to mow my daughter and her husband's yard for the workout!).  But we must strive to complete our tasks on time with love and with no complaints.  Each of us has a duty in life.  Figure out what yours are and ask Christ for a heaping dose of motivation to accomplish them.

Thank you, Lord, for helping me survive teenage girls without pulling out all my hair!  Please help my daughters to respond with love when their children reach that wonderful time in their lives when shirking duties is an every day occurrence. 

God bless,

Bonnie

The Easy Button

Sometimes life can be very difficult.  Emotions run amok as we struggle to find balance in our new surroundings; our new life. Relationships develop with others commiserating the same defeat. There is nothing more comforting than knowing you aren't the only one experiencing such heartache and pain.  While going through a rough time before my divorce, a woman I had met while writing Heavenly Healing was in a marriage very similar to mine.  We bonded immediately and I felt I had met someone who completely understood me like no one else.  I loved every minute with her.  She felt the same way.  But when I had made the decision to get divorced, things changed between us.  I was no longer grumbling about my frustrations. I was trying to move forward and begin the healing process. And she was still in an unhappy marriage. All of the sudden, there wasn't much to talk about.  We played a role in each others life at a time when we needed to feel better about ourselves. Connected to another human being who understood.  But this doesn't fill the void. The lesson I have learned from this relationship is to listen more, vent less, and leave the complaining for Jesus' ears only. Life is so much easier when I speak to Him in prayer, work through the problems with His love and guidance, and try my best to follow His advice in the Bible and the Volumes. 


Now, almost two years later, I have discovered the "easy" button. It is Jesus Christ.  He asks us to go to Him for everything, and boy do I dump on Him when problems arise!  

The Gospel today (Matthew 11:28-30) has a message which I take seriously now:

Jesus said: "Come to me, all you who labor and are burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am meek and humble of heart; and you will find rest for yourselves. For my yoke is easy, and my burden light."

In Volume Two, Jesus illustrates exactly why we must stop the pattern of complaining to others and bring all our heartache, pain, and frustrations to Him:

"Often you rail against your circumstances but do not come to Me to object. Of what use is complaining to others? They cannot lift your cross or even ease your burdens. Talk to Me and listen to others. In that way you will not fall into sins of the tongue, which do great damage in this world. I am here, waiting to listen to your every complaint. Every sorrow you suffer finds a warm, comfortable place in My heart and, truly, when you share sorrow with Me it is diminished. I want to give you eyes of heaven. I want you to see your life, this world, and its people, with these heavenly eyes so that you will begin to respond like Me, your Jesus, who loves you so dearly. My child, I am offering this new vision to you. Will you accept this wonderful gift from Me? Truly, you will be astonished at how this viewpoint will change your life. Most of what disturbed you in the past will simply fade away, out of your line of vision, because it will hold such little importance for you. Do you want this? I am so hopeful that you will say 'yes.'"

Lay apostles, have you been complaining to someone today?   Taken out your frustrations on another?  I catch myself repeating old habits once in a while.  Ask yourself this question when you are venting your dissatisfaction: am I shining His Light or shedding more darkness? You be the judge.  


Thank you, Lord, for being my "easy" button when it comes to complaining.  Help me to focus on being the example You need me to be and not what makes me temporarily feel better. 


God bless,
Bonnie

To Be Childlike

A full bright moon on a clear starry night still enchants me.  Yellow flowers of any type fill me with joy.  Kissing my grandson’s precious little head as I rock him to sleep is a little piece of heaven on earth.  I love singing my favorite songs cranked up as loud as I can tolerate (not quite the volume I blared when I was 18!).  Yes, I can be childlike finding beauty, wonder and excitement all around me.  Doesn't God ask this of us?  To enjoy and love all He has created? But some confuse childlike with childish.  The Merriam-Webster dictionary definition of childlike is as follows: resembling, suggesting, or appropriate to a child or childhood; especially: marked by innocence, trust, and ingenuousness (childlike delight). And the definition of childish: marked by or suggestive of immaturity and lack of poise (a childish spiteful remark). Two very different definitions. One bringing you closer to God while the other pulls you further away.

In todays Gospel (Matthew 11:25-27), Jesus informs us of the benefits of childlike behavior:

At that time Jesus exclaimed: “I give praise to you, 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 the Son except the Father, and no one knows the Father except the Son and anyone to whom the Son wishes to reveal him.”

In Volume Four, Jesus the King clearly paints a picture of what childlike behavior looks like:

“In this time of change, you must walk in the light with determination. Children do not often fear because they rely on their parents for everything. When they face a problem, they run to their parents and place the problem with their parents, running off again to continue with their childlike pursuits. Take heed, dear ones. This is what we ask of you at this time. And we ask this for your own peace. This is the way to proceed during this time of change and transition. Soon, it will come naturally to you and you will have no need to remind yourself each day. I have asked My children to practice their faith and by that I mean continued acts of trust when trust would seem difficult and there is a temptation toward fear and distress. You must say, “I have given this to my Father in heaven. God wants to protect me so I will take full advantage of my Parentage and allow Him to do so. In this way, I am mentally liberated and can do the work my Father wills for me in freedom. My concentration should be on each task that is placed in front of me, never worrying about the past, never worrying about the future.”

Lay apostles, if you have lost all innocence and struggle understanding how to become childlike in the eyes of God, go outside tonight and marvel at the moon, a sunset, a smile from a loved one, anything.  Thank Him for the beauty He surrounds us with on earth.  Thank Him for His protection, His mercy and great love of all creation. Make it a daily habit.  All of the sudden you will begin fearing less and praying more.  And marveling at the sunshine a yellow flower can create on a cloudy day . . . 

Thank you, Lord, for teaching me how to be childlike again.  You have surrounded me with so much love and beauty!

God bless,

Bonnie

A Turning Point

Old habits die hard, don't they?  At what point do we discard toxic thoughts and behaviors in order to move on and live a life for and with Christ? Throughout childhood, the little tape recorder in our brain archives events and behaviors which set the tone for relationships in our future.  For example, in my young life, stability didn't exist.  Either my mother was hospitalized for mental breakdowns or my father was threatening to leave her.  This instability created a young woman with very little trust of people, especially men.  Disabling mistrust was the result of feeling abandoned. How do we erase destructive messages replaying over and over in our head with each relationship we encounter?  Through Christ.  Plain and simple.  I am proud to say about 95% of the senseless ideation rummaging around in my brain has subsided!  I have to give credit where credit is due. Jesus has set me free.  This apostolate (Direction for Our Times) is how He did it. I am a stronger, more confident and trusting Bonnie than I've ever been.  I am on the road to recovery, a turning point I never dreamed possible.


Todays Gospel (Is 7: 1-9) quote is short but impactful:


Unless your faith is firm you shall not be firm!


In Volume Two, the Eucharistic Heart of Jesus, Jesus sets us straight about holding on to old habits:

“My child, with such gratitude I view your efforts. I am here, waiting in the tabernacle to thank you and encourage you. You are trying to serve Me in your life and it is not always easy to do this. Until a complete union or surrender occurs, you continue to wrestle with the pull of the world and worldly attractions and distractions. This creates conflict in you because I am calling you in another direction. This conflict makes you feel discouraged, dear one, but you should not allow this feeling. There is not growth without some bit of discomfort. So, when you feel unsettled and you long for old habits, remember that you used those habits to console yourself in emptiness. I am now filling that emptiness for you so you do not need to rely on these things anymore. Worldly habits or addictions did not make you happy, My little soul. You felt unrest and bitterness without Me. Now, with Me, you are beginning to experience true peace, the peace which comes from heaven. This is a sign that your soul is directing the movement and action of your body, which is how man is intended to live.”

Lay apostles, it is flat out challenging to change learned behavior.  But isn't it time? Take a moment to listen to those old tapes and begin erasing mistrust, hate, envy, grudges, and every other behavior keeping you from fully living Jesus.  Let your turning point begin today.

Thank you, Lord, for assisting me in erasing bad habits ingrained since childhood. I am finally free.

God bless,

Bonnie 

A Simple Concept

Love. Kindness. Understanding. Three words which seem so easy and yet so hard to achieve during tumultuous times.  Think about how we could change the world if we battled spiritual warfare with love.  Offered kindness where cruelty prevails.  Provided understanding where intolerance destroys. Believe it or not, this is feasible when equipped with powerful armor supplied in the Bible. The concept really is quite simple.  Todays first reading (Is 1:10-17) gives us clear direction:

Wash yourselves clean! Put away your misdeeds from before my eyes; cease doing evil; learn to do good. Make justice your aim: redress the wronged, hear the orphan's plea, defend the widow.

In Volume Nine (Angels), Jesus provides the weapons needed to engage in spiritual warfare:

“My children, I want you to be aware of every weapon in this spiritual battle. Seek Me first, and understand that I am God, all powerful and the Creator of All. You are part of a heavenly family and must remember that you have the whole of that family to help you. You understand that Our mother, Mary, is powerful. She is your first line of defense against evil and deception. You should pray the rosary every day. You have the sacraments. Holy souls or souls working for Me, and this I hope is each one of you, should attend Mass as often as possible. You should seek reconciliation with Me in the Sacrament of Penance. Also, Adoration of your Jesus in the Blessed Sacrament will give you an unlimited flow of graces which will grant you peace and guidance. You have the saints in heaven. They wish to help you. Ask them each day for their intercession. Study their lives and you will understand why they are such effective helpers. They walked your walks already. You have Me, in the silence of your heart. Spend time there each day. My children, another weapon you have at your disposal is angels. Angels are heavenly servants who do not experience humanity. They are pure goodness and heaven is filled with them. You will enjoy their company immensely when you come home to Me. These beautiful beings are active in your world now and have always been. In these days, given the necessity of great heavenly help and intervention, I have given the angels, along with the saints, permission to be even more apparent. They will surround you if you ask them. Ask Me for angels to assist and protect you and you shall have them.”

Lay apostles, the evil one constantly lurks about waiting for us to stumble hoping we choose hate over love.  Strap on your suit of armor and head out to battle.  Arm yourself with Scripture, the Volumes and heaping dose of courage. Every one of us is capable of choosing good over evil; calm over stormy.  Just as a warrior enters into battle prepared and knowing his enemy, know yours. Rely on God the Father, Jesus, Mary, and all of heaven to provide the heavenly shield you need to live Jesus.


Thank you, Lord, for giving me the words and directions I need to combat spiritual warfare.  The answer is so simple, yet requires the courage of a great warrior.  Please help me to continue building my spiritual muscles on a daily basis!


God bless,
Bonnie

A Matter of Respect

Have you ever felt you were sailing along on the path to Christ when all of the sudden, something derails you?  Albeit short-lived, it still throws you for a loop.  When this does happen to me, I realize I still have a lot of work to do on myself.  A situation arose recently where I was asked for feedback and my response was kindly honest, sugar-coating the best I could.  My honesty wasn't received very well, and the passive-aggressive behavior began. Not a good thing for me. I felt as if dealing with my mother (she had bipolar disorder) on a day where she was manic and depressed, up and down like a roller coaster.  After some emails back and forth, the lack of respect became evident.  The old Bonnie reappeared. The sugar-coating came off and I was brutally honest. I had no intention of offending, and being the bigger person (at the insistence of my daughter), I apologized.  But instead of a return apology, more anger spouted causing me to almost "go there." A place I haven't been in a while. Respect is something I hold in high regard.  After some venting to my daughter, you will be happy to know I calmed down and responded as Christ would have wanted.  

Todays Responsorial Psalm (Chapter 51) is "My mouth will declare Your praise." Boy, I wish I would have read this yesterday . . .

Have mercy on me, O God, in your goodness; in the greatness of your compassion wipe out my offense. Thoroughly wash me from my guilt and of my sin cleanse me.

In the January 2007 Monthly Message, Jesus reminds us why we should be kind at all times:

“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.”

Lay apostles, when you begin to feel anger, remember why it should be tamed.  Even those we vent to are seeing anger and not Christ.  Live by example at all times.  Well, at least try to!  God knows we are only human and will stumble once in a while.  Let's pray for each other to show Christ's love in difficult situations. The easy way out is anger. Work hard on love.

Thank you, Lord, for teaching me to suppress tendencies toward anger and replace them with love for You.  

God bless,

Bonnie

A Lesson In Patience

* This post is from yesterday . . . I was distracted from finishing due to my sweet baby grandson!


Patience was a tough one for me.  Especially when it involved Jesus Christ the Returning King.     There is nothing I enjoy more than leading others to Christ. As I have said many times, this apostolate (Direction for Our Times) drastically changed my life.  I get so excited when people I meet want to know more about the mission and my book Heavenly Healing.  And, I love getting feedback. But, not everyone is ready for change. This is where my lack of patience came in.  When I would hand out a Volume, I assumed others would devour it as I did.  Why wouldn't everyone want to feel like I feel? To truly understand how an intimate relationship with Christ can rock your world? I have heard Anne a lay apostle say many times to plant the seed and let Jesus take it from there. I struggled with this concept for quite a while, but over time, I began to understand the importance of this statement. I can't make people believe or desire a closer relationship with Jesus.  Because if I could "make" them, it would be my time, not God's time.  The valuable lesson here is to approach others with love and show them, by example, what living in the Light of Christ looks and feels like. Then, move on and hand out the next Volume.

Todays Gospel (Matthew 10:7-15) gives good advice when trying to shine the light of Christ on those in darkness pushing us away:

Jesus said to his Apostles: "As you go, make this proclamation: 'The Kingdom of heaven is at hand.' Cure the sick, raise the dead, cleanse the lepers, drive out demons. Without cost you have received; without cost you are to give. Do not take gold or silver or copper for your belts; no sack for the journey, or a second tunic, or sandals, or walking stick. The laborer deserves his keep. Whatever town or village you enter, look for a worthy person in it, and stay there until you leave. As you enter a house, wish it peace. If the house is worthy, let your peace come upon it; if not, let your peace return to you. Whoever will not receive you or listen to your words go outside that house or town and shake the dust from your feet. Amen, I say to you, it will be more tolerable for the land of Sodom and Gomorrah on the day of judgment than for that town."

In the Monthly Message of August 2008, Jesus instructs us to be vigilant in pursuing holiness:

 “Ask yourself today and each day, ‘Where is God asking me to be holier today?’ Perhaps it is charity, perhaps patience, possibly trust, maybe you should practice concentrating on your holiness and refrain from examining the work needed in other souls. Oh, My dear apostles, if you could only see how desirable holiness is to heaven. If you could only see how beautiful you are when you are looking up to heaven with an honest desire to become holier. When you become distracted, My heart sighs. And yet I am patient with you. I know that My little ones want to serve Me. I know that My little ones struggle to absorb the truth about holiness. And that is why I am patient. I am patient because you are trying. Continue trying, dear apostles. Walk bravely into holiness. Be fearless in examining your condition. If you do so, I will surround you with love so that you do not become discouraged but emboldened.”


Lay apostles, be proactive for Christ. Live as an example to others.  For what good does it bring when you say you love Jesus, but brutally judge; hand out a Volume and then use Christ's name in vain.  Remember, all eyes are on you to determine if you live what you preach.


Thank you, Lord, for my newfound patience.  I am not exactly perfect in this area yet, but I am much better than I was in my younger days!


God bless,
Bonnie

Time For Harmony

When people criticize and judge, does it really do any good to further His Kingdom?  Harsh statements, no matter how true, can cut to the quick. A few months ago I attended a meeting with local Catholics uniting to learn about defending religious freedom.  It was informative, motivating and established a camaraderie among the participants.  During discussion of abortion and the HHS mandate, an elderly man I know well interjected loudly that all women who have had abortions should be excommunicated from the Catholic Church.  The speaker graciously acknowledged him and moved on.  But it wasn't enough for this man.  He wanted the speaker to agree with his statement and continued to argue.  The speaker acknowledged him one last time stating he was not sure about the Church's view and he was not one to pass judgement.  Those of you who read my blog know I had an abortion when I was 18. And, I knew for a fact another woman in the room had experienced the same thing as I heard her speak of her abortion at a Magnificat meeting years ago.  Every ounce of my being wanted to stand up and say to this man, who has known me for a few years, that I was one of those women and I didn't think Jesus would want me excommunicated.  Just the opposite as a matter of fact.  I believe my mistake years ago and the lessons I have learned can lead others to choosing life, making better decisions for the precious gift within. Walk a mile in my shoes, right? 

In todays Gospel (Matthew 10:1-7) Jesus is telling us not to waste our time while on this earth:

Jesus sent out these Twelve after instructing them thus, "Do not go into pagan territory or enter a Samaritan town. Go rather to the lost sheep of the house of Israel. As you go, make this proclamation: 'The Kingdom of heaven is at hand.'"

In Anne a lay apostle's book Whispers From the Cross, she eloquently tells us to focus on our own path:


"It is often not enough for us to follow the path that the Lord has marked out for us.  We tend to also examine the paths of others and rather than seeing other paths as authentically belonging to others, we see them as flawed because they do not perfectly match our own. While this is obviously wrong, perhaps it is not always malicious.  Perhaps it is part of the limitation of our humanity and consequent short-sightedness.


That stated, we are all asked to extend ourselves beyond our humanity and I believe that in order for the renewal to advance, we must all make a heroic effort to acknowledge in our hearts and words and actions, that if we desire unity, will have to adjust the way we view others."


Lay apostles, focus on becoming united with fellow Christians, not on the inadequacies of their choices in life.  Choose similarities over differences.  Instead of creating angst in a woman who has chosen abortion in the past, help her heal.  Drive others closer to Christ with love and forgiveness.  Leave judgement up to Him.  It is time for harmony.


Thank you, Lord, for forgiving my inadequacies and poor choices.  Use my mistakes to lead others to Your Sacred Heart.  


God bless,
Bonnie

Lost Sheep

I suffer from a disabling disease which causes confusion, agitation and the feeling of impending doom.  Most of the time it's under control.  When I sit comfortably in my own little office writing, it is non-existent.  So, here goes the big reveal: I am directionally challenged.  I cannot read a map; I struggle figuring out where the bouncing blue dot on my iPhone GPS is actually taking me; and please, don't tell me north, south, east or west when giving me directions.  Left or right will suffice and, most importantly, get me to my destination on time! Luckily, there are plenty of shepherds in my life providing the direction I require to stay on track.  They are kind, patient, and understanding of my affliction.  They love me despite my  navigational abilities (or lack thereof).  What did we ever do before cell phones? 

We trust our GPS or maps function to lead us to our journey's end. It's there in writing and we believe it will not lead us astray (most of the time!).  As Christian's, we have the ultimate guide book in the Bible.  Step by step directions leading us to Christ.  Todays Gospel (Matthew 9:32-38) demonstrates the love Jesus feels for His lost sheep:

At the sight of the crowds, his heart was moved with pity for them because they were troubled and abandoned, like sheep without a shepherd.

The above quote is heart-warming to me.  Jesus sees the chaos of our lives and yet feels compassion for us as we maneuver awkwardly through our days. All He wants is to lead His flock home.

In Volume Three, God the Father is activating His GPS:

“My child, for so long I have watched you. In some deep area of your soul, you knew I was there with you. I choose to be more active in your life now. I choose to lead you more directly, if you will allow Me. I want My children to be united with Me, but also with each other. I require a legion of souls who are living in union with Me, their God, and who are responding to My directives. Children, along with My Son, and Mary, his mother, I am giving you every assurance of your welcome. You are being guided in an unprecedented fashion and this guidance will continue. We will shepherd you through all difficulties. Many souls think that they do not have to return to Me now because they will have time later. They procrastinate. Children, this is not what I want. This is not what I am asking of you. I say, enough. Come to Me now. In order to enter heaven, you must accept Jesus, My Son.”

Lay apostles, take a look at the direction in which your life is headed. Are decisions leading you closer to Christ or to an unforeseen dead end?  Isn't it about time to reboot and get back on the main road to heaven?

Thank you, Lord, for having pity on this poor sinner.  I am finally learning to read directions that once mystified me! Your Patience is very much appreciated!

God bless,

Bonnie

I Love You This Much

My favorite movie of all time is The Mirror Has Two Faces with Barbra Streisand and Jeff Bridges.  It's about basing a relationship on compatibility, not chemistry and sex.  It's about being best friends first.  Rose (Barbra Streisand) has a great line at the beginning of the movie:  "I tell you what I envy about people in love - I'd love it if someone knew me, I mean really knew me. What I like, what I'm afraid of, what kind of toothpaste I use."  We all desire perfect love, don't we? To know another person has your back . . . always. My best friends Joyce and Paul are one of those couples.  Not that life has been a piece of cake for them.  But they really know each other and best of all, their relationship centers around God and living their faith . . . together.  They set the bar high in my eyes. I will accept nothing less in my future. 

My beautiful friends Paul and Joyce after my grandson's Baptism

My beautiful family!

Todays first reading is from Hosea (2:16, 17c-18, 21-22) where God is describing His great love for each of us, as if a husband speaking to his wife:

I will espouse you to me forever: I will espouse you in right and in justice, in love and in mercy; I will espouse you in fidelity, and you shall know the LORD.


In Volume Two, the Eucharistic Heart of Jesus, He has this to say about love of your spouse:

"Be attentive to your earthly spouse. Consider your marriage as the primary consideration for every decision you make. I have given you your spouse so that you can lead each other to heaven and help each other obtain a higher degree of holiness than you could have obtained without the participation in this sacramental union. So always view your marriage as a holy covenant, in which I participate. If you do this, My children, I will have no more concerns about families, because your children will be honored and loved, as I intended them to be."

Lay apostles, love each other.  If you are married, do as Jesus instructs above. If you are single, expect this behavior from a potential partner.  Do not accept anything less than a relationship with Christ in the center.  Life can be grand and burdens lightened with love of the ultimate Spouse.


Thank you, Lord, for showing me Christ-centered marriages exist and flourish. I am so grateful for the hope Paul and Joyce have demonstrated proving true love starts with You! 


God bless,
Bonnie

Calling All Sinners

Have you ever been given a huge blessing, wondering what you ever did to deserve it?  Even though I am finally on the right path, I still feel so unworthy of the gifts He graciously grants me when I least expect it.  That's how this mission has changed me and how I move into every day now.  I am acutely aware of everything.  The tough stuff doesn't throw me into a tizzy anymore.  I unite my suffering or sadness to Him and He comforts.  I unite my joy and happiness to Him and He celebrates with me. He knows I am a sinner, but still encourages me to be better.  He never abandons, no matter how sick our souls are. 


In todays Gospel (Matthew 9: 9-13), Jesus demonstrates it's the sinners He longs for union with:

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."

In Volume One, our Blessed Mother consoles and guides:

“Like any good mother, I forget the mistakes of my children almost immediately. I can help poor sinners to forgive themselves and seek the forgiveness of my Son, a forgiveness that heals and strengthens. Sinners must not be afraid. They must simply close their eyes and say, ‘God, I have made mistakes. I’m sorry. I am Your child, though, and seek to be united to You.’ My child, all of heaven weeps for joy when even one soul makes this act of humility and love. How we rush in to assist this soul, and protect him from the attacks of the evil one. We nurture and guide this soul until he is back walking the path to Christ with confidence. Don’t be afraid, dear souls. You will find no recriminations. Only love. Be reconciled to the loving heart of my Son, who will lead you to the Father. What joy will be mine, to see you safely with Jesus.”

Lay apostles, go to Jesus and His Mother for everything.  Ask Them for help in every difficult situation. Thank Them for every joy you experience.  For when you do, an acute awareness of the graces showered develops and life just becomes more peaceful.  

Thank you, Lord, for loving me despite my sins.  I am not worthy but so thankful!

God bless,

Bonnie

Courage To Move On

There are times in our lives when change seems too daunting.  Despite our misery, the unknown seems scarier . . . out of our comfort zone.  In desperation, we backslide to the safety of what we know, continuing down a path eventually leading us full circle to the hurt and pain again. We stay in careers we loathe; enduring and/or recovering from painful divorces;  even submerged deep within an addiction numbing us from reality. After all, it's safe.  We know exactly what to expect. We know how to control this "world."  Therein lies the problem.  It's us trying to control our own world.  It takes courage to walk in faith.  To trust outcomes to Jesus.  Let Him control our world by following in His footsteps, believing in the words of Scripture and the promises contained within the Bible.  It takes courage to change and begin anew. But if we stand tall with Jesus by our side, trusting in His guidance, we cannot fail and will recover.  And, oh, such beauty will illuminate your entire being when showered by His Graces!


In todays Gospel (Matthew 9:1-8), true faith is rewarded with courage:

After entering a boat, Jesus made the crossing, and came into his own town. And there people brought to him a paralytic lying on a stretcher. When Jesus saw their faith, he said to the paralytic, "Courage, child, your sins are forgiven." At that, some of the scribes said to themselves, "This man is blaspheming." Jesus knew what they were thinking, and said, "Why do you harbor evil thoughts? Which is easier, to say, 'Your sins are forgiven,' or to say, 'Rise and walk?' But that you may know that the Son of Man has authority on earth to forgive sins?" he then said to the paralytic, "Rise, pick up your stretcher, and go home." He rose and went home. When the crowds saw this they were struck with awe and glorified God who had given such authority to men.

In Anne a lay apostle's book The Mist of Mercy, God the Father assures He will give us all the strength we need to survive this world:

“I will heal your hurts and restore your heart to you. I will give you courage and strength so that you can proceed with your earthly journey. I am asking you today, though, to proceed differently. Ask Me to be united to you. In this way, you will come to walk on the path that I, through Jesus Christ, have marked out for you. Dearest children of the world, please walk with Me. I need your help. I, the Almighty God, ask you now to walk with Me. There are many souls crying out to Me in pain. You must bring Me to them. My dear ones, bring Me to them.”

Lay apostles, take the first step to recovery with courage.  Courage knowing Jesus is ready to catch us when we fall, and lending His Hands to pull us back up onto our feet.  

Thank you, Lord, for the courage to accept what I must and the strength to change my focus to You and not the world.

God bless,

Bonnie

Seeking Beauty

Happy Independence Day to all those in the U.S.!  My day began volunteering at the local soup kitchen at 9:00 a.m. with a good friend in tow.  It is something I have been wanting to do for a long time. My uncle had been homeless most his life and when we reunited he and my mother after 40 years apart, I became part of a world I never understood. But today was very special.  I felt I was where I needed to be, serving others. From the gentleman complaining he wanted another piece of chicken (Louise, who runs the cafe, said absolutely not until all were fed!) to the beautiful faces of the children playing with the plastic toy fruit wanting to take my order, overwhelmed me with joy.  Watching the other volunteers speak with kindness to the elderly, get food orders out quickly, and share a few laughing moments with each other was a site to witness.  When you look closely, it's easy to see the good in every human being . . . even the guy insisting one piece of chicken was not enough!

Todays Gospel (Amos 5:14-15,21-24) is right on target after a morning of service:

Seek good and not evil, that you may live; Then truly will the LORD, the God of hosts, be with you as you claim! Hate evil and love good, and let justice prevail at the gate; Then it may be that the LORD, the God of hosts, will have pity on the remnant of Joseph.

In Anne a lay apostle's book Climbing the Mountain, she shows us the importance of serving others as a prerequisite to comfort in heaven:

"Joy in service is really the opposite of selfishness. Moving further away from that negative pole, joy in service is living for the soul and not the body, or living for God and not self. Perhaps I belabor this point. I do so because it is fundamental Christianity and this point is what will eventually allow us to be at home in heaven. This point is what will push us up the mountain like a strong wind at our backs. Service to others is the beginning of freedom from self-gratification."

Lay apostles, let go of selfishness and serve.  Whether it be within your own family, workplace or a soup kitchen, serve others with joy.  And, with no expectations of service in return.  

Thank you, Lord, for the many opportunities to love Your children here on earth in preparation of eternal joy in heaven.

God bless,

Bonnie 

Doubt No More

I met a young man recently who lights up a room with his smile and personality.  He is kind, funny and just plain fun to be around.  I was helping this amazingly talented person with a project and we were going to be spending some time together. A few days ago we were talking about faith when he declared he was an atheist.  Immediately, I informed him he wasn't an atheist, just lost. He is from a family with strong Christian values, so the building blocks are pretty solid. He just needed a little push in the right direction. Our last day working together, I asked him if he would do me a favor.  I asked him to read three of the Heaven Speaks booklets (Addiction, Those Away From the Church, and Those Who Don't Know Jesus).  Smiling, he agreed.  I also warned I would be ramping up the prayers for his conversion.  I cannot wait to see the day when Jesus takes ahold of his heart!  Young man (I know you are reading this!), you are in for the ride of your life and I promise to be there every step of the way if need be!


There comes a time in most of our lives when we doubt God's existence. I'm not referring to existence as in who created us.  I'm referring to His existence by our side, 24/7. No matter how dire our lives seem at the moment, He is always there ready to forgive us.  And, He knows we are only human and will screw up again at some point.  It takes practice, patience, spiritual reading and prayer when developing an intimate relationship with Christ.  And when you know Him intimately, things you once thought draining or atrocious become small bumps in the road where you only stumble, not crash to the ground.


Todays Gospel (John 20:24-29) was no coincidence.  The timing, perfect after this young man proclaimed (jokingly, I'm sure!) this morning on the phone he would need the stigmata to believe.  Watch what you pray for!

Thomas, called Didymus, one of the Twelve, was not with them when Jesus came. So the other disciples said to him, "We have seen the Lord." But Thomas said to them, "Unless I see the mark of the nails in his hands and put my finger into the nailmarks and put my hand into his side, I will not believe." Now a week later his disciples were again inside and Thomas was with them. Jesus came, although the doors were locked, and stood in their midst and said, "Peace be with you." Then he said to Thomas, "Put your finger here and see my hands, and bring your hand and put it into my side, and do not be unbelieving, but believe." Thomas answered and said to him, "My Lord and my God!" Jesus said to him, "Have you come to believe because you have seen me? Blessed are those who have not seen and have believed."

 In Heaven Speaks to Those Away from the Church, Jesus consoles:

"My friend, listen to Me. Hear My words because My words are truth. Reject the rebelliousness of My enemy. Accept that you are called to follow Me and raise your behavior to My standards. I will help you. You will be welcome in heaven if you accept that I am God. You will have to accept that I am God in order to gain heaven, of course. Will you not accept this fact now, before your time on earth is finished? Will you return to Me now given that ultimately you hope to do so? My heart longs for your peace. I see everything. If you have been hurt by those who claimed to represent My Church but who failed, I will heal you. Do not use this hurt as a reason why you step away from all that I offer for you through My Church. This has taken you in the wrong direction and others walk behind you. Please, come into My Church. It belongs to Me, after all. You are welcome, regardless of your sins."

Thank you, Lord, for the blessing of this young man in my life.  Keep sending them, Lord.  I am your faithful servant ready to shine Your light at a moment's notice!

God bless,

Bonnie

Actions Speak Louder Than Words

How I act and treat others is a direct reflection of me . . . who I am.  When I care about someone, I care with all my heart.  What I say, I mean.  I use the phrase in the title of this blog post often.  Internally more than verbally.  But, I have been known to say it out loud when my heart has been wounded unexpectedly.  Mixed signals from a loved one causes so much confusion in my brain, I question the love spoken in words. It's very easy to say "I love you" and proceed into negative behavior displaying just the opposite.  This is a concept I struggle to understand.  But when you meet or know someone whose words correlate with their actions, it is nothing other than the love Jesus Christ wants His children to experience.  To feel His presence in a smile from my grandson; a kiss or a hug from a friend; even my grandpuppies excitedly racing to me when my daughter comes over to workout . . . pure heaven on earth. True love is mutual and requires one very important factor for a successful connection . . . God. He is the priority in any relationship. Love God, and all the rest falls into place. 

Todays Gospel (Matthew 8:18-22) shows us nothing else is more important than following Christ first: 

When Jesus saw a crowd around him, he gave orders to cross to the other shore. A scribe approached and said to him, "Teacher, 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." Another of his disciples said to him, "Lord, let me go first and bury my father." But Jesus answered him, "Follow me, and let the dead bury their dead."

Not burying your father sounded a little harsh to me when I read the Gospel this morning.  But as I contemplated what message Jesus is trying to get across, it dawned on me.  He is first, no matter what. I can testify putting Him first has produced great fruits!

In the Monthly Message of February 2011, Jesus reinforces that loving, through Him, will renew the world: 

“In every moment there is grace available for you and for others through you. The more grace I flow through you, the more the world is blessed and the more you are sanctified. Move toward Me, closer and closer in your hearts and in your actions and, truly, the world will find the love it craves. Look at how God’s children drink in kindness, as though they were parched for want of it. Yes, you are sacrificing in order to answer My call but the plan is working and the world is being renewed through the efforts of all men of good will. Rejoice then, despite your cross. We are advancing the one righteous cause, that is, the cause of love.”

Lay apostles, let your actions speak louder than words. If you truly love someone, show them.  Don't say you do and then act otherwise.  For if Christ remains in the center of a relationship, how can you see the other person as anything other than a child of God?

Thank you, Lord, for sending so much love into my life. I am not worthy, but so incredibly grateful!

God bless,

Bonnie

July 2012 Monthly Message!

On the first of every month, our Lord gives Anne a new message about His call to service.

July 1, 2012

Jesus

"My dear apostles, it is time for Me to announce Myself as King. I am truly the King of heaven and I am the King of all God's children on earth. I am the King of all that is good and I am the King of love. Most of all, and most importantly for you, I am your King. Yes, it is to Me that you owe allegiance as a follower and servant. I ask that you speak of Me in relation to your contribution to the good of humanity and also in relation to your contribution to the good of the Church. Why do you serve? Is it not because you believe in the power and the goodness of your King? Do you serve Me because you trust Me to care for you and to care for that which is important to you? I believe this is true. I believe that you understand something about both My power and My goodness and I believe that you rely on Me to care for your loved ones even in their sufferings and rebellions. Dearest apostles, to make way for your King you will have to fall back from drawing attention to yourself. One falls back, in this instance, by giving constant credit to the One who is fighting the battles and winning the souls. And the war is for souls, dear apostles. I am craving allegiance from all of God's children because I am craving what is good for them. Those who are away from Me must see the goodness in you. You are truly offering the best possible message for everyone you encounter. Your message is one of love and welcome and you give the message as the messenger of the King. Be at peace. I am all powerful and you are on the side of heaven."

Lay apostles, are we blessed or what?  I am in awe of the love and graces Jesus gives to His lay apostles.  

God bless,

Bonnie