The Power of His Love

Now, more than ever, I need to place full and complete trust in Jesus. Not that I don't . . . but sometimes fear can take over, clouding the fact He is in control of EVERYTHING. My youngest daughter is moving to California in a few weeks, and it has been tearing my heart up. I raised my girls to truly follow their hearts and their dreams . . . only not so far away from me. 3,000 miles isn't a quick car ride or plane flight. I know this is her journey and wherever and to whomever it leads her, my prayer is she is safe and surrounded by good, God-loving people. She has let Him lead her in making a decision, so I know this is where she needs to be at this point in time. I have finally stepped back and I am ready to let Him parent her now . . . to watch over her as I have all these years (of course with Him by my side!). The power of His Love is great, lay apostles. There comes a time when we all need to grow up and make our own decisions, based on what is best for us. This is her time. Please keep Taylor in your prayers as she begins this new chapter in her life. I love you Tay Tay, with all my heart!

Todays Gospel (Mark 1:21-28) provides evidence of His great power:

Jesus came to Capernaum with his followers, and on the sabbath he entered the synagogue and taught. The people were astonished at his teaching, for he taught them as one having authority and not as the scribes. In their synagogue was a man with an unclean spirit; he cried out, “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, “Quiet! Come out of him!” The unclean spirit convulsed him and with a loud cry came out of him. All were amazed and asked one another, “What is this? A new teaching with authority. He commands even the unclean spirits and they obey him.” His fame spread everywhere throughout the whole region of Galilee.

In Volume Four, God the Father describes the power of His love for us:

"Please have no fears. Understand that the Father wills these changes on earth so that the Son will be welcomed in the hearts of those remaining. We do not manifest as a poor boy in the stable. We manifest as the King of Creation. My Son is your God. I am your God. Our spirit flows through your world in such a way today that none can deny the heavenly times. The enemy will deny Our spirit. But you expect that, dear ones. That denial detracts in no way from truth. Truth flows right over the enemy despite the feeble objections of evil. I, the God of All Creation, can slap down and destroy evil with a glance. I allow a certain amount of evil to co-exist because My children can then discern between light and darkness, in the same way a child is taught to discriminate between cold and hot. Children, if you desire to blame Me for the state of the world, your ancestors in heaven will bow their heads in disappointment. Do not be so ridiculous. I do not will catastrophe upon My children. I do allow a certain amount of upheaval so that attention will be focused away from the ever present diversion of material goods. In line with this goal, I will begin to remove many material comforts. Consider this a liberating experience, earthly creatures. Your losses on earth are nothing in comparison to the loss you will experience if you choose darkness. Be humble and accepting in everything and together We will prepare the world for the Return of My Son." 

Lay apostles, are you facing something causing fear to creep in? Stop and take a deep breath. Focus on the fact He is in control and what may be causing you fear is something He knows will benefit all in the long run. And, especially benefit His Kingdom on earth. 

Thank you, Lord, for the blessing of a daughter who loves You and will glorify Your Name in a world of darkness. Let her be the light she wishes to see in the world.

God bless,
Bonnie

P.S. If anyone reading this needs an amazing photographer in California, take a look at Taylor's work: www.tlphotos.net

Drop What You're Doing

Spontaneity is not my forte . . . I can go with the flow if I have to, but I am a planner at heart. One thing I love about Jay (of the many thousands I could list!) is he could be taking the trash out and come back in the house and say, "Bonnie, come outside! I want to show you something!" If I'm tired or in the middle of a project, I tend to ask if it can wait. His response is usually "no, please come out here!" When I do, it is always to show me something beautiful . . . like a full moon, a jet in flight, or a sky filled with stars. Over time, I have stopped asking if it could wait and head outside to see what he is marveling at. The childlike sound in his voice when viewing God's creations while wrapped in his arms is worth every little effort. So, drop what you're doing long enough to appreciate the beauty God has provided for our time on earth. Drop what you're doing to listen to God's call for your life. Listen, you will hear Him speak!

In yesterdays Gospel (Mark 1: 14-20), the apostles didn't hesitate to follow Jesus: 

After John had been arrested, Jesus came to Galilee proclaiming the Gospel of God: “This is the time of fulfillment. The Kingdom of God is at hand. Repent, and believe in the Gospel.”

As he passed by the Sea of Galilee, he saw Simon and his brother Andrew casting their nets into the sea; they were fishermen. Jesus said to them, “Come after me, and I will make you fishers of men.” Then they left their nets and followed him. He walked along a little farther and saw James, the son of Zebedee, and his brother John. They too were in a boat mending their nets. Then he called them. So they left their father Zebedee in the boat
along with the hired men and followed him.

In Volume One, Thoughts on Spirituality, Anne a lay apostle identifies the answer to our search for comfort:

"The call to our God comes from our center, and when we are in pain, it becomes louder and more insistent. Instead of answering the call and dropping to their knees saying, “God, God, make haste to help me,” people go to health food stores, fortune tellers, Reiki practitioners, and all manner of holders of empty promises. The anguish, the groaning, is the soul, saying, 'Please, dear person, I am starving. Feed me with spiritual food that I may begin to flourish again, thereby granting you the peace you find so elusive.'"  

Lay apostles, what are your goals for 2014? To live a healthier life? To make more money? To lose weight? I have some questions for you . . . is Jesus on that list? Is making more time for Him in Adoration there, too? What about some spiritual reading? Make sure He is at the top of your list this year (and every year!). 

Thank you, Lord, for encouraging Jay and me to make You our priority, letting go of what can be let go of. 

God bless,
Bonnie

That's What It's All About

Guest blogger: my love, Jay Crandall!

This last Wednesday at Rotary, Rabbi Adam Miller gave the opening invocation for the group. He began by talking about the significance of the song ”Hokey Pokey” not only for us as children, but for us adult Rotarians. He spoke about how as the song progresses, the singer is putting more of themselves IN and moving more of themselves OUT just to

acknowledge that's what it's all about!

He went on to share that in Rotary we are asked to put more of ourselves IN with each year and yet move ourselves OUT more each year (less about US and more about others and service to others) as we mature in Rotary . . . and again . . . that's what it's all about. It made me think that I am (we are) being called to do exactly that in this mission! For me, more IN every year . . . every day. More Christ every year . . . every day. More Peace, more Joy, more Enthusiasm every year . . . every day. And, less me . . . less ego, that's what it IS all about.

In today’ Gospel (John 3:22-30), John recognizes that his job is almost complete and thus the message . . . more of Christ, less of me:

Jesus and his disciples went into the region of Judea, where he spent some time with them baptizing. John was also baptizing in Aenon near Salim, because there was an abundance of water there, and people came to be baptized, for John had not yet been imprisoned. Now a dispute arose between the disciples of John and a Jew about ceremonial washings.  So they came to John and said to him, “Rabbi, the one who was with you across the Jordan, to whom you testified, here he is baptizing and everyone is coming to him.” John answered and said, “No one can receive anything except what has been given from heaven. You yourselves can testify that I said that I am not the Christ, but that I was sent before him. The one who has the bride is the bridegroom; the best man, who stands and listens for him, rejoices greatly at the bridegroom’s voice. So this joy of mine has been made complete. He must increase; I must decrease.”

In the February 2007 Monthly Message, Jesus wants us incrementally to improve our relationship with Him:

"Look at each situation, regardless of how seemingly unimportant, and try to be obedient. You do not do this alone, but with Me, because together we work on your spiritual growth. It is our job, yours and mine. It is our project. It is an interesting and joyful project to Me. I love nothing better than helping you to improve the condition of your soul. As your soul’s condition improves, you learn more and more about Me and how much I love you. Do you want to learn more about how much I love you? Practice obedience in small things. I do not expect you to become perfect at once. Do not expect this of yourself. Be gentle with yourself. I love you so much that I do not want you to judge yourself harshly. In the same way, I will never be harsh with you. I will never be hard or cold. You are cherished, my beloved one. I am your Jesus, always here for you. Take My hand and I will lead you closer to obedience each day."

Lay apostles, do you continue to put more of you into your relationship with Christ? At the same time, do you ask that His presence becomes greater in you . . . so that the world experiences more of Him through you? 

Thank you, Lord, for Your patience and the gift of Your love as we take steps to move closer to You each day.

Humbly and gratefully,

Jay

Pope Francis, A Beautiful Soul

Time magazine's Person of the Year? That was a shocker . . . only because it is such a liberal magazine. There is so much good in the world, and our pope is a living example of how each of us should live our lives. This beautiful soul has shot "selfies" with young people; washed the feet of prisoners; and Huffington Post has stated, "Pope Francis is a good man for all religions." No wonder even atheists are listening . . . love, joy, respect . . . who wouldn't want to hear what he has to say! He asks questions of us, giving us much to ponder. This is one of my favorites: 

"If God is like the merciful father in the parable of the prodigal son (see Luke 15:11-32), what is God waiting for you to do in your life right now?"

When I read yesterdays Gospel (Luke 5:12-16), my mind went immediately to this picture of our beloved Pope Francis:

It happened that there was a man full of leprosy in one of the towns where Jesus was; and when he saw Jesus, he fell prostrate, pleaded with him, and said, “Lord, if you wish, you can make me clean.” Jesus stretched out his hand, touched him, and said, “I do will it. Be made clean.” And the leprosy left him immediately. Then he ordered him not to tell anyone, but “Go, show yourself to the priest and offer for your cleansing what Moses prescribed; that will be proof for them.” The report about him spread all the more, and great crowds assembled to listen to him and to be cured of their ailments, but he would withdraw to deserted places to pray.

In Anne a lay apostle's book Whispers From the Cross, she directs us to remember the importance of our Holy Father:

"People drowning out the voice of the Holy Father through rebellion and disagreement are pulling against God Himself. How can we advance without the power of unity? It cannot be done. Consider a herd of cattle and the effort to move them to another place. A unified forward momentum is necessary and all efforts at advancing the herd go to this objective, which is, keeping the cattle moving in the same direction. God wills renewal. We are charged with participating in this renewal. In order to do our part we must make sure that we fall in behind the Holy Father in a spirit of humility and unity. There will always be those claiming to be savvier than the Holy Father, or better informed, or more sophisticated. Often they do not say this outright but imply it with subtle reproaches that signal arrogance and superiority. It can be difficult to sift through these things when those who rebel possess great learning. Those of us lacking such study can find ourselves intimidated. But we should not be. We should feel confident in the leadership of our Pontiff and offer our simplicity and lack of sophistication to the Lord, who will honor our fidelity with dignity and holiness. When someone claims to be more ‘in the know’ than our Pope, we must be very alert indeed. There are those who will argue, “He is just a man and he does not always lay claim to infallibility.” To this I would respond “True. He, himself would say the same, but he is the only person chosen to lead as Pope at this time.” He is certainly more chosen than I am to lead the Church and this statement applies to every other person on earth."

Lay apostles, Pope Francis has made a significant impact in our world, opening the eyes of even the media to the beauty of our Faith, and what being a Catholic should "look" like. Listen to what our Holy Father is saying . . . for he is leading us to our ultimate destination.

Thank you, Lord, for blessing us with not only Pope Francis, but all the good men who have preceded him as Your Vicar on earth. 

God bless,
Bonnie

It All Boils Down to Love

My 17-month old grandson Colton is a hoot. He has the cutest sayings . . . "abobbin" means "I want more." When he spots my computer, he rushes to it saying "bra! bra!" Which means he wants to watch the Disney trailer for the movie Planes called "Meet El Chupacabra." And one of my favorites . . . when I am pushing him on his swing, I'll say, "ready, set . . ." and Colt will say "goo!" Phonically, he doesn't say it like "go" is pronounced. He kind of says it like goo (as in muck, or gunk!). His little personality is really becoming apparent . . . he loves being silly and loves when I try to scare him playing hide and seek. He squeals with laughter and then runs to hide so I can surprise him again (we do this for a least 10 minutes several times a day when I watch him!). The love I feel for this baby boy when he snuggles against me to rock him to sleep is immense. He brings me so much joy and hope. Joy knowing he will know Jesus and feel loved. Hope that in a world where many distance themselves from Christ, Colt will be one of the good guys. It all boils down to love, lay apostles. Love like you've never loved before. Start now, beginning with Our Savior.

In todays Gospel (Luke 4:14-22), Jesus begins His public ministry in His own hometown . . . where His Words bring those listening and ready to hear the truth . . . hope:

Jesus returned to Galilee in the power of the Spirit, and news of him spread throughout the whole region. He taught in their synagogues and was praised by all.

He came to Nazareth, where he had grown up, and went according to his custom into the synagogue on the sabbath day. He stood up to read and was handed a scroll of the prophet Isaiah.  He unrolled the scroll and found the passage where it was written:

The Spirit of the Lord is upon me,

because he has anointed me

to bring glad tidings to the poor.

He has sent me to proclaim liberty to captives

and recovery of sight to the blind,

to let the oppressed go free,

and to proclaim a year acceptable to the Lord.

Rolling up the scroll, he handed it back to the attendant and sat down, and the eyes of all in the synagogue looked intently at him. He said to them, “Today this Scripture passage is fulfilled in your hearing.”  And all spoke highly of him and were amazed at the gracious words that came from his mouth. 


In Volume Three, our Blessed Mother clearly defines a true follower of Christ (and what each of us must strive for every day):

"We have talked in the past about the modern version of love, which is not love at all, but exploitation. True love, heavenly love, is genuine. You know it is genuine because it creates security. Consider those with whom you are comfortable. Do you see that those souls carry true love within them? It is safe to be with them because they carry a seed of God in them and that is what generates love. It is that seed you respond to when you feel comfortable and safe with a person. Well, dear ones, I have to tell you that fewer and fewer carry that seed of love and that is why so many of your fellow brothers and sisters have fallen prey to diseases of the mind. Man was not meant to live without love in his life. He should walk through each day and experience a little love in this person, that person, and ideally, through every soul who has contact with him. The light has been extinguished in many souls and they have nothing to give in the way of love. Gradually, love in this person goes out too. Now a person can survive quite nicely if he is nurtured by divine love. That is not a problem. But few souls are accepting divine love. Think about most of the souls you know. How many can you say have a lively connection to Jesus Christ? You will know them because they stand out. Why do they stand out? Because they are joyful. They smile. They love others with simplicity and easiness. They worry for each other and tolerate and understand the faults of others. They seek to help others whenever they can. They are not ruled by addictions and jealousies. They do not acquire goods for the sake of acquiring goods. They speak the truth. They accept responsibility for their actions. And they like and respect children. How many souls of this description did you identify, dear one? I leave you with that thought and ask you to understand that this description should fit everyone." 

Lay apostles, the passage above from Volume Three profoundly affected Jay and me this morning. This is what we both strive for every day. This is what Jesus Christ the Returning King has blessed us with . . . true love. A love free of fear or insecurities. We accept each other completely, for better or for worse. Read and reread the words of Our Lady. Print them out or write them down. Then check in at the end of the day, asking yourself if the description fits you. As she said, it should fit everyone.

Thank you, Lord, for teaching me how to love with all my heart and all my soul. And for all the love You have brought into my life! 

God bless,
Bonnie

Miracles Right Before Our Eyes . . . But Are They Real?

How many times have you witnessed something miraculous happening to others, or even to yourself? And then the next day wondering when the next "miracle" will occur? Man, I know I've been there before. But now I take nothing for granted. He has blessed me with so many "miracles," I choose to focus on those, thankful for everything. If I remain focused on what I don't have, still wanting, I miss out on so many opportunities to thank Him, showing my love for Him. I just rocked my grandson Colton to sleep (hence my ability to get some writing done!), looking at his beautiful, peaceful face as he was falling asleep. One of the many miracles God has placed in my life. And I get to focus on this little miracle three days a week. Yes, miracles are real . . . and right before our eyes.

Two of my little "miracles." Grandsons Colton and Connor!

Todays Gospel (Mark 6:45-52) demonstrates how even the apostles witnessed miracles, yet continued to question if they were real:

After the five thousand had eaten and were satisfied, Jesus made his disciples get into the boat and precede him to the other side toward Bethsaida, while he dismissed the crowd. And when he had taken leave of them, he went off to the mountain to pray. When it was evening, the boat was far out on the sea and he was alone on shore. Then he saw that they were tossed about while rowing, for the wind was against them. About the fourth watch of the night, he came toward them walking on the sea. He meant to pass by them. But when they saw him walking on the sea, they thought it was a ghost and cried out. They had all seen him and were terrified.  But at once he spoke with them, “Take courage, it is I, do not be afraid!” He got into the boat with them and the wind died down. They were completely astounded. They had not understood the incident of the loaves. On the contrary, their hearts were hardened.

In Volume Four, Jesus explains His Love is real:

"Let me tell you about Me, so you will understand who loves you, and who it is you are being called to follow. I walked your earth as you do. I saw the failings of mankind as you see them. I was grieved at the injustices, in the same way that you are grieved when you see things that are not fair. Did I grow bitter? No. I did not. Why was that? Because I am God? No. I was God on earth but I was God trapped in man’s body and constrained by the limitations of the body. I did this so that when it came time for you to follow Me you could not say that it was easy for Me because I was God. I did not use My divinity except during the last three years and then only to heal, cure, and otherwise support My claim that I was the King of Heaven, come down to lead all back to the Father. I did not waste miracles on those who would reject Me, regardless of proof of My divinity. Do you intend to reject Me? You are Mine, dearest soul. Come back to Me that I may introduce you to love and joy." 

Lay apostles, are you dismissing past miracles which have occurred in your life? Take a minute and think about all you have been blessed with. Good health? Children? Grandchildren? The comfort of shelter in the cold? A car to drive? A cell phone to connect with others? Strong Faith? The list can go on and on. Don't take anything for granted. Look for the miracles every day . . . you will be surprised by all He graces us with!

Thank you, Lord, for all the miracles in my life . . .  Jay, our girls, sons-in-law, grandsons, family, friends and all the other blessings too numerous to write down!

God bless,
Bonnie

He Will Provide . . . Trust Him!

"Somehow God hasn't seen my business plan yet!" Jay says lightheartedly when things don't proceed exactly as he anticipated. But we both know His business plan is much better than ours. It's all about trusting Our Father knows best. There are many twists and turns in life . . . and looking back, I can see how Jesus gently (and sometimes not so gently when I wasn't listening!) changed my direction when I was headed into disaster or toward something which took my attention away from Him.  As I get older (become more mature) and inherit the clarity and wisdom the Volumes provide, those twists and turns become a roller coaster ride (ok, not a fan of roller coasters, so let's say the "It's a Small World" ride at DisneyWorld!) . . . full of adventure, joy, and peace. Remember, He will provide . . . trust Him!


The Gospel from yesterday (Mark 6:34-44) is a perfect example of trusting what He says:

When Jesus saw the vast crowd, his heart was moved with pity for them, for they were like sheep without a shepherd; and he began to teach them many things.  By now it was already late and his disciples approached him and said, “This is a deserted place and it is already very late.  Dismiss them so that they can go to the surrounding farms and villages and buy themselves something to eat.”  He said to them in reply, “Give them some food yourselves.” But they said to him, “Are we to buy two hundred days’ wages worth of food and give it to them to eat?”  He asked them, “How many loaves do you have? Go and see.”  And when they had found out they said, “Five loaves and two fish.”  So he gave orders to have them sit down in groups on the green grass.  The people took their places in rows by hundreds and by fifties.  Then, taking the five loaves and the two fish and looking up to heaven, he said the blessing, broke the loaves, and gave them to his disciples to set before the people; he also divided the two fish among them all. They all ate and were satisfied. And they picked up twelve wicker baskets full of fragments and what was left of the fish. Those who ate of the loaves were five thousand men.

In Heaven Speaks to Those Who Suffer From Financial Need, St. Augustine gives us good advice when fear of suffering creeps in:

"During this time, many are suffering from financial difficulties. Is heaven any less present? This is the same as in many periods of history. Be at peace in all circumstances around you and you will find that God gives you what you need to serve Him in each day. If you are hungry, offer this to God, even while asking Him to provide you with more food. God will make you a saint quickly in these circumstances and you will experience spiritual richness. If you have enough and you are not hungry, deny yourself food periodically. Simply do not eat for a day and offer your hunger to God so that He can take your little sacrifice and obtain graces with which to feed others. Heaven will help you to understand God’s will in either situation, either poverty or affluence." 

Lay apostles, whether it's struggling with finances, tough decisions, or a lack of direction, turn to Jesus. Tell Him your problems while trusting He is listening. And He is listening, working to send you the graces you need to get through your suffering. There is a whole bunch of heavenly coordinating taking place. Be patient your answer is right around the corner. In the meantime, keep learning from Scripture, the Volumes and anything bringing you closer to Christ. Most importantly, stay connected to Him in prayer.

Thank you, Lord, for providing love, joy and peace in my life. Help me remain connected to You through prayer and trust.

God bless,
Bonnie

Anne's First Thursday Talk in Bailieborough, Ireland

January 2014 Talk from Anne, a lay apostle  Dear Lay Apostles, The talk from Anne during the January 2014 First Thursday prayer group in Bailieborough, Ireland is now available. Lay apostles and prayer groups are encouraged to watch. Click here to view video! Direction For Our Times relies on donations to supplement the cost of publishing the messages. Currently, only 40% of the publishing cost is covered by the sale of the books. Thank you for your prayerful consideration.  Direction for Our Times (DFOT) is a 501(C)(3) non-profit organization dedicated to spreading God's messages as revealed in the Volumes.

The Divine Healer

Jesus Christ the Returning King healed me . . . healed my soul. It was a process and didn't happen overnight. With every message I read in the Volumes, my relationship with Christ became stronger . . . clearer. Although my choices in life weren't always ideal, they were my choices . . . decisions made to the best of my ability. I could control it all on my own after all. Or so I thought. Messages from Jesus revealed how sick my soul was, how childhood circumstances created insecurities causing me to build brick walls around my heart. As the walls began to crumble, I became vulnerable to the world . . . and to Christ. Not an easy thing for me at first. But once humility kicked in (thank you, St. Faustina!), I could handle just about anything with calm and peace. And it continues to this day. Don't get me wrong, situations can still cause me to misstep, but it's usually just a stumble I recover from quickly. Jesus is the Divine Healer, if you let Him be. 

In todays Gospel (Matthew 4:12-17, 23-25), it's clear Jesus can heal every wound:

When Jesus heard that John had been arrested, he withdrew to Galilee.  He left Nazareth and went to live in Capernaum by the sea, in the region of Zebulun and Naphtali, that what had been said through Isaiah the prophet might be fulfilled:

Land of Zebulun and land of Naphtali, the way to the sea, beyond the Jordan, Galilee of the Gentiles, the people who sit in darkness have seen a great light, on those dwelling in a land overshadowed by death light has arisen.

From that time on, Jesus began to preach and say, “Repent, for the Kingdom of heaven is at hand.”

He went around all of Galilee, teaching in their synagogues, proclaiming the Gospel of the Kingdom, and curing every disease and illness among the people.  His fame spread to all of Syria, and they brought to him all who were sick with various diseases and racked with pain, those who were possessed, lunatics, and paralytics, and he cured them.  And great crowds from Galilee, the Decapolis, Jerusalem, and Judea, and from beyond the Jordan followed him.

In Anne a lay apostle's book Serving in Clarity, Jesus encourages us to keep focused on Him, continuing to serve despite our suffering:

"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, we all have wounds in need of The Divine Healer. Let Him in. Let Him comfort you. Continue to serve Him with joy. You will be surprised at how quickly He works!

Thank you, Lord, for healing my heart and soul. You have opened my eyes through this apostolate and showed me how complete trust in You heals every wound.

God bless,
Bonnie

Who Am I?

Guest blogger: love of my life, Jay!

It is often said . . . “when people tell you who they really are, believe them.”  If you meet someone and listen carefully . . . or watch their actions . . . you will know a lot about them in a short period of time. If someone is rude to the waiter or waitress, it is just a matter of time before they will show their rudeness toward you or a loved one. If someone is flirting with the waiter or waitress in front of their spouse, you can take it to the bank that they are disrespecting their spouse when they are away from them. If a potential business partner shares how they did something shady in another deal, it is just a matter of time before you may experience their antics.

Before proceeding further and/or professing to walk on water, I want to re-introduce the concept of “dualism.” Recently, I heard Anne, a lay apostle speak about how all of us have both good and bad traits. People are neither just good or just bad . . . we are all shades of one more than the other. The big question here at the turn of this new year is not only who other’s say that I am (what do they see . . . how would they describe my personality), but who do I say I am (what is my true character when no one is around . . . no one is watching).

In today’s Gospel (John 1:35-42), Jesus wants to know what others see:

John was standing with two of his disciples,
 and as he watched Jesus walk by, he said,
 “Behold, the Lamb of God.”
 The two disciples heard what he said and followed Jesus. Jesus turned and saw them following him and said to them,
 “What are you looking for?” 
They said to him, “Rabbi” (which translated means Teacher),
 “where are you staying?”
 He said to them, “Come, and you will see.
 So they went and saw where he was staying,
 and they stayed with him that day.
 It was about four in the afternoon.
 Andrew, the brother of Simon Peter, 
was one of the two who heard John and followed Jesus.
 He first found his own brother Simon and told him,
 “We have found the Messiah,” which is translated Christ.
 Then he brought him to Jesus.
Jesus looked at him and said, 
“You are Simon the son of John;
 you will be called Cephas,” which is translated Peter.

In Volume Two, Jesus reinforces we are not defined by our past:

“I wish to tell My souls about the joys of heaven. My children, there is no bitterness in heaven. Bitterness and distress are not intended for you, even on earth. These are experienced by every soul
at some time during their earthly time, but souls should not see bitterness and distress as the defining characteristics of their life. My child, if you feel you struggle often with these destructive patterns, you must spend time with Me. I am the Divine Healer. I can remove all hardness from your hearts so that you are liberated to love with no barrier. In that way, you become a more effective servant because you are open to receiving love, as well as giving love.”

Lay apostles, the beauty of Jesus’s message is that we are free to change. If we haven’t become our best selves yet, there is still time. We are not defined by our past. With His help . . . His forgiveness . . . His Love, we are free to start anew. We are free to begin again with a fresh slate . . . and to begin shading our lives with more goodness today. In this New Year we are being invited . . . and challenged . . . to change the way we think . . . the way we act . . . so that we become better men and women. We will benefit and so will everyone who comes in contact with us.

May 2014 be the best and most blessed year for all of you.

Gratefully and humbly,

Jay

Believe and He Will Do Great Works Through You

I just got off the phone with Bookmasters, and Can You Text Me Directions? is shipping today!  This book has been a family project. My daughter Taylor not only shot the front cover and designed the back cover, her testimony (from Heavenly Healing) is enclosed within this work of love. As are the testimonies of my other two daughters, Mallorie and Whitney. Jay was my support, encourager, sounding board and editor, as was my dear friend Karen. Two very special young women, Annie and Tessa, added their insight in the wording on the back cover (emailing me it wasn't "lame" or "momish!"). Anne a lay apostle wrote the Foreword beautifully. And the testimonies . . . just stunning and beautifully written by each young lay apostle. I am in awe of the graces Jesus has bestowed upon me this past year. Believe and He will do great works through you!

Todays Gospel (John 1:29-34) is a meaningful testimony from John the Baptist, showing us the power of believing:

John the Baptist saw Jesus coming toward him and said, “Behold, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world. He is the one of whom I said, ‘A man is coming after me who ranks ahead of me because he existed before me.’ I did not know him, but the reason why I came baptizing with water was that he might be made known to Israel.” John testified further, saying, “I saw the Spirit come down like a dove from the sky and remain upon him. I did not know him, but the one who sent me to baptize with water told me, ‘On whomever you see the Spirit come down and remain, he is the one who will baptize with the Holy Spirit.’ Now I have seen and testified that he is the Son of God.”

In Volume Ten, Jesus lovingly assures us to believe:

"My dearest little serving souls, how I love you. You serve so diligently and do not realize at all how grateful is your Jesus. My gratitude could flow over you in such a way that you would experience it in your humanity. But if that were to happen, the merit from your service might be decreased. So I keep that to Myself and place it in the most special place in heaven, your place. It will be here waiting for you when you arrive. All of your crosses, each one, obtain merit for your soul and salvation for others. The more unpleasant the cross, the more merit and salvation obtained. You do not see Me, but you believe in Me." 

Lay apostles, believing in Jesus may not be the "cool" thing in our world today (although, Hollywood is sure producing some Christian movies coming out this year thanks to The Bible series). He knows the pressure we are all under to conform to what the world views as politically correct and how heavy this cross can be. But He is asking us to push through the burdens of the world and continue to stay focused on Him. Let's build this army for Jesus Christ the Returning King together. Start today by facing your burdens with Him by your side. Literally consult Him when your cross feels heavy. Then listen. Believe, and He will do great works through you!

Thank you, Lord, for the courage to face my crosses knowing You are right beside me. Please bless Can You Text Me Directions? and get it into the hands of everyone craving Your heavenly assistance!

God bless,
Bonnie

January Monthly Message

We continue our cycle of monthly messages for 2014 with the message from January 1, 2006 for our prayer groups and personal reflection. January 1, 2006 (2014) Jesus My apostles hear My voice and know that their Saviour speaks. More and more I will speak to My apostles in their souls, directing their actions. I am returning at this very moment through each one of you. Can a plan be more perfect? Bring others to me so that I can flow into the world through each of them, also.  Dear friends of the Saviour, together we are changing your world. When people feel fear, we will bring calm. When people feel anger, we will bring forgiveness. When people feel abandoned, we will bring love. When people feel great grief, we will bring comfort. And when people see death, we will bring them to an acceptance of heaven so that they understand eternal life. Many in the world today do not understand their inheritance. This creates a fear of death which prevents people from living fully.  If a person accepts the truth about eternity, that person works for Me because he knows that glory only lasts if it is obtained for heaven. The glory of heaven is love and is obtained by how much one loved on earth. People will be disappointed when they look back on their life if their life was lived in selfishness and if their purpose in life was to obtain worldly goods. This will be a disappointment for them, for Me, and for their families if their families were led astray by this flawed vision of the purpose of life. If you realign the purpose in your life, I will then help to realign the purpose for each member of your family. This is My promise to you. Make Me, Jesus Christ, the purpose of your life, and I will work through you to claim the world. How can I help the world through you and through the life I have given you? How you can set an example so that others will identify Me in you and in your actions? Think on this, My beloved apostle. Meditate on this. Give Me the time to direct your soul because both your soul and your life on earth are necessary to My plan. We do not want the Kingdom to lose souls because you lived a flawed purpose. This will not happen, of course, because you are listening to Me. But you must give Me the time each day to work in your soul, to communicate with you, to restore the precious calm that is our gift to the world at this time. This becomes more important each day. I send calm to you. You bring it to others. I send more calm to you, and you bring more calm to others. Do not be afraid when you do not feel calm. This means simply that the world has taken your calm and you must come back to Me so that I can give you more. This will work but in order for it to work you must make your commitment to prayer time. Consider today and each day what time is My time?  When will you sit in silence so that I can communicate with you? If you do not have a set time, perhaps you will set one now. I love you totally. I rely on you, My dearest apostle. I am grateful to you in the extreme and I am blessing your loved ones. I will keep My part of the bargain. Accept My gift of calm in your life and I will direct you in everything. Then your life will be lived for God’s purposes and truly, My kingdom will come. Share: Direction For Our Times relies on donations to supplement the cost of publishing the messages. Currently, only 40% of the publishing cost is covered by the sale of the books. Thank you for your prayerful consideration.

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