Gospel Thoughts Today: Instilled Faith

Faith is a gift. I never understood the depth of that statement until I found this apostolate. Every day we come across people who don't believe in God, who have no desire to believe in God because it means changing their heart. Some are so wounded, they blame God for their problems. No accountability, no responsibility for their actions. They seek to judge others because it makes them feel better about themselves. Well, the simple Truth is we ARE all accountable and responsible for our actions. And yes, sometimes our choices are not stellar. But, I have discovered something along my journey in life . . . I was given the gift of faith, and that I owe to my mother. I have never doubted God's existence. I believe in God as sure as I have a nose on my face . . . always there with me no matter where I go. So, if you've been given the gift of faith and only partially opened the gift, it's time to take the lid off and begin receiving all the graces from it!

Today's Gospel (Luke 11:29-32) provides a simple truth, stop searching for proof of God's existence, and look to His Son for confirmation:

While still more people gathered in the crowd, Jesus said to them, “This generation is an evil generation; it seeks a sign, but no sign will be given it, except the sign of Jonah.  Just as Jonah became a sign to the Ninevites, so will the Son of Man be to this generation. At the judgment the queen of the south will rise with the men of this generation and she will condemn them, because she came from the ends of the earth to hear the wisdom of Solomon, and there is something greater than Solomon here. At the judgment the men of Nineveh will arise with this generation and condemn it, because at the preaching of Jonah they repented, and there is something greater than Jonah here.”

In Anne a lay apostle's book Lessons in Love, she beautifully illustrates the importance of doing all for His Glory:

"I often think of St. John the apostle at the foot of the cross. We could look at St. John’s role in the Passion and think correctly, ‘My goodness, what a privileged position St. John was awarded.’ In considering the matter, one might wonder what qualified St. John to accompany Jesus and Mary so intimately on this torturous day. What we know about St. John is that he was remembered by the purity of his love. He is called the Lord’s beloved apostle. What did love prompt him to do that day that nobody else did? He showed up, first of all, and then he stayed. The day got uglier and uglier, the crowds more venomous. It did not appear to be a day of triumph, even though we know it turned out to be so. St. John showed up, and he stayed. Was Jesus able to verbalize his tremendous gratitude to John at the time of His Passion? Was Jesus able to chat about John’s concerns? Hardly. He had his hands full dealing with His own considerable difficulties. The best Jesus could do was to assign John a task. “Son, behold your mother.” Was there any other apostle there to accept this task? No. Just John. I would guess that John did not do a lot of talking on that day. I would guess he just stayed, suffering Jesus and Mary’s anguish, uniquely willing to remain in a circle of suffering and grief that could be called unparalleled. Is there a greater example of loyalty, love or fellowship? Can we imagine the Lord’s gratitude even though it was not expressed on that day? I do not think so. I do not think we can ever imagine the extent of the Lord’s gratitude to St. John. I think, though, that His gratitude resonates throughout heaven, eternally preserved. We are called to be like John to each other. We are called to show up for each other and we are called to stay, often in silence or in service or in silent service. This is pure love. Why does pure love seem to be so elusive during this time? Well, we are called the Me Generation. That, all by itself, is a condemnation of our times. Love cries out for sacrifice but many of these cries go unheard. In some cases, the cries are mocked. People are encouraged to seek satisfaction for themselves. But we are a community people, intended to give and accept Christ in each other. If I am wholly concentrated on serving myself and filling my own needs, I become unavailable to serve others. As stated, people crave love as Christ craves love. This is the way we are created. But now some people experience guilt about this as though they are not worthy of being loved or as though they are not entitled to be loved or even as though they are asking too much in expecting to be loved. There are many making do with crumbs from the table when they should be experiencing a great Christian feast. We should never be ashamed that we crave love, from God, from each other, and from the world around us. Each person is created to be valued and loved and in this period of great advances, there is a historically unique opportunity to live out the Christian call to honor each of God’s created children."

Lay apostles, if you haven't fully committed yourself to walk this journey with Christ, what is your hesitation? Think about that today. It's surprising how what we think is a hurdle is actually a curb.

Thank you, Lord, for the gift of Faith. I am forever grateful You instilled it in my mother.

God bless,
Bonnie

Gospel Thoughts Today: The Power of Temptation

Temptation.  Such an ugly word. None of us are immune to evil's seduction. Temptation may present itself when we are at our weakest.  And our weakest can be when our lives are right on track.  We become complacent thinking we have it all under control.  Before long, temptation creeps in, upsetting our version of normal.  The grass begins to look a little greener on the other side. Whether it be in our careers, marriages, or families, temptation can create a desire so strong it can lure us away from what is right.  The fight between good and evil has been around since Adam and Eve.  Eve knew it was against God's direction to pick the apple from the tree.  Yet, evil convinced her otherwise. We are no different than Adam and Eve.  But, due to modern technology, temptations have become more accessible in the privacy of our own home.  Good 'ol free will.

With free will comes choices.  There is a great line in the movie Little Black Book, "Omission is betrayal."  If you feel like you have to lie or hide something, think twice about it before you make a mistake with irrevocable consequences.  Society is so fixated on making ourselves "feel" better despite outcomes.  Addictions, affairs (emotional and physical) and other poor choices we make only satisfy our perceived needs temporarily.  Our "truth" is whatever makes us feel better.  Fellow lay apostles, we must always follow God's Truth, not our own.

Today's Gospel (Luke 11:15-26) reinforces the need to combat temptation with Jesus in mind . . . always:

When Jesus had driven out a demon, some of the crowd said: “By the power of Beelzebul, the prince of demons, he drives out demons.” Others, to test him, asked him for a sign from heaven. But he knew their thoughts and said to them, “Every kingdom divided against itself will be laid waste and house will fall against house. And if Satan is divided against himself, how will his kingdom stand? For you say that it is by Beelzebul that I drive out demons. If I, then, drive out demons by Beelzebul, by whom do your own people drive them out? Therefore they will be your judges. But if it is by the finger of God that I drive out demons, then the Kingdom of God has come upon you. When a strong man fully armed guards his palace, his possessions are safe. But when one stronger than he attacks and overcomes him, he takes away the armor on which he relied and distributes the spoils. Whoever is not with me is against me, and whoever does not gather with me scatters.

“When an unclean spirit goes out of someone, it roams through arid regions searching for rest but, finding none, it says, ‘I shall return to my home from which I came.’ But upon returning, it finds it swept clean and put in order. Then it goes and brings back seven other spirits more wicked than itself who move in and dwell there, and the last condition of that man is worse than the first.”

In Anne a lay apostle's book The Mist of Mercy, she beautifully illustrates where temptation comes from:

"But many of God’s children have wandered further and further away from truth and the enemy is making fools of them. We must accept that God’s enemy wants only our destruction. The enemy of God has an agenda for us that includes unhappiness and eternal despair. The enemy sends temptation. When a person falls prey to a temptation and commits a sin or even merely an action that pulls the soul from goodness, the enemy exults. The enemy mocks humanity and works tirelessly to sow seeds of restlessness and anger, frustration and bitterness. All people should understand that just as God loves, the devil hates."

Today, let's choose God's truth. If you are in the middle of something you know could be detrimental to a loved one, or yourself, stop. Stop and do the right thing. It's not always easy, but when you choose good over evil, He will provide the graces needed to get you through.

Thank you, Lord, for helping me to choose Your Truth. Evil can hit me with its best shot because I have no fear with You in my corner!

God bless,
Bonnie

Gospel Word Today: Blessed by Friends

Karen . . . one of the most loving, kind, Catholic women I am blessed to call my close friend . . . a true sister in Christ. Despite struggles she is encountering right now, she remains positive and continues to persevere. I know she reads my blog, and I want to tell her: Karen, you are a beacon of light, facing your suffering with the will and determination I pray I emulate! The depth of faith it takes to trust in God's plan for us is a daunting task at times. Asking Him for the graces to withstand our challenges/struggles may be the easy part . . . acting on that trust He knows best is a daily spiritual workout and worth every minute trying to achieve. Although my spiritual muscles get a little sore once in a while, I believe the end result is life in eternity with our loving God! 

In the Gospel reading today (Luke 11:5-13), Jesus shows us God is ready and waiting to bestow His gifts upon us. All we have to do is ask:

Jesus said to his disciples: "Suppose one of you has a friend to whom he goes at midnight and says, 'Friend, lend me three loaves of bread, for a friend of mine has arrived at my house from a journey and I have nothing to offer him,' and he says in reply from within, 'Do not bother me; the door has already been locked and my children and I are already in bed. I cannot get up to give you anything.' I tell you, if he does not get up to give him the loaves because of their friendship, he will get up to give him whatever he needs because of his persistence.

"And I tell you, ask and you will receive; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you. For everyone who asks, receives; and the one who seeks, finds; and to the one who knocks, the door will be opened. What father among you would hand his son a snake when he asks for a fish? Or hand him a scorpion when he asks for an egg? If you then, who are wicked, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will the Father in heaven give the Holy Spirit to those who ask him?"

In Anne a lay apostle's book Climbing the Mountain, she challenges us to service:

"We must compare ourselves to Jesus in love of neighbor. Scripture gives us plenty of examples of the selflessness with which Jesus served His brothers and sisters. He was a dutiful Son to His mother and father. He was a good friend to His apostles. Jesus was kind to strangers and those ill and less fortunate. He was patient in the extreme with the flaws of others. He saw each soul as a soul who was somewhere on the mountain and He viewed them with the patience of a teacher, who knows that the total cannot be achieved without walking through the equation. Jesus gave others the room to grow in the light of His love. Are we doing that for others? Or do we constantly point out the deficits in the holiness of our companions? Souls loved Jesus and sought out His companionship. They sought His love and tolerance, His acceptance and steadiness. This is our call to those around us. We must always rejoice in the holiness of our companions. Rejoice in each bit of progress or any bit of hope for progress. This will give us joy and we will not spend all of our time lamenting the failures of those around us, which is really our own failure."

Lay apostles, what is it you need today? Hope? Encouragement?  Whatever it is, invite Jesus to be on your team. He so badly wants you to make Him a part of your life . . . not a passing thought. Walking with Jesus is like walking with gel inserts on a long hike . . . it's comfortable, easier, and motivates you to make it to your final destination!

Thank you, Lord, for good friends who encourage and support me through thick and thin. Please continue to alert me to others needs when I am distracted by my own.

God bless,
Bonnie







Jesus said to his disciples: “Suppose one of you has a friend to whom he goes at midnight and says, ‘Friend, lend me three loaves of bread, for a friend of mine has arrived at my house from a journey and I have nothing to offer him,’ and he says in reply from within, ‘Do not bother me; the door has already been locked and my children and I are already in bed. I cannot get up to give you anything.’ I tell you, if he does not get up to give him the loaves because of their friendship, he will get up to give him whatever he needs because of his persistence.

“And I tell you, ask and you will receive; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you. For everyone who asks, receives; and the one who seeks, finds; and to the one who knocks, the door will be opened. What father among you would hand his son a snake when he asks for a fish? Or hand him a scorpion when he asks for an egg? If you then, who are wicked, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will the Father in heaven give the Holy Spirit to those who ask him?”

Gospel Thoughts Today: A Prayer Life

Have you ever been too tired to pray? Yes, I am guilty of this at times. Yesterday, Jay and I were in Adoration (we try to do an hour every week) and I was just plain tired. I always pray a Rosary first, then go into Contemplative Prayer for the remaining time. As I got comfortable in my seat, I just wanted to sit there and let the Lord speak. As soon as I had that thought, I swear I got a spiritual butt-kicking to pray the Rosary and pray it now! It was so strong, I found myself thinking, "ok, ok, I'll pray it!" I am so glad I did. And, after reading today's Gospel (Luke 11:1-4), I know He appreciates every effort we make:

Jesus was praying in a certain place, and when he had finished, one of his disciples said to him, "Lord, teach us to pray just as John taught his disciples." He said to them, "When you pray, say:

Father, hallowed be your name, your Kingdom come. Give us each day our daily bread and forgive us our sins for we ourselves forgive everyone in debt to us, and do not subject us to the final test."

In Volume Two, Jesus lovingly shows us He is waiting with open arms:

"Faith is a gift, my dear one. I wish to give this gift to you. But you must turn to Me so that I may. My heart beats only with love for you. I can promise you that I will not reproach you. I will help you understand that only joy and light is suitable for a child of God. You will return to Us one day. Let Us make that the most joyful day of your life. Come to Me, My child, and I will show you how. You say, “Jesus, I forget how to pray.” My child, does a small one forget how to cry when he is hurt? Of course not. Come before Me and cry out your pain, your hurt, and your fear. We need not do it all in one day, but take the first step to Me by coming in front of Me. Put yourself in My Eucharistic presence and I will do the rest. The work will come from Me. I will move you back swiftly to that place that has been reserved for only you in My Sacred Heart."

Lay apostles, what does your prayer life look like?  Take time in the morning to read Scripture, pray the Rosary, or just say the Our Father.  Acknowledge and thank Him for the day ahead.  As a lay apostle, I always say the Allegiance Prayer and the Morning Offering.  It only takes about 25 seconds:

Allegiance Prayer

Dear God in Heaven, I pledge my allegiance to You. I give You my life, my work, and my heart. In turn, give me the grace of obeying Your every direction to the fullest possible extent. Amen.

Morning Offering

Oh Jesus, through the Immaculate Heart of Mary, I offer You the prayers, works, joys and sufferings of this day for all the intentions of Your Sacred Heart, in union with the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass throughout the world, in reparation for my sins, and for the intentions of the Holy Father. Amen

Thank you, Lord, for igniting my prayer life through writing this blog. By beginning my days and ending my nights with You, You remain with me always.

God bless,
Bonnie

Gospel Thoughts Today: Redirecting Time

Motherhood. So much to do, so little time to do it all. And when there are multiple children involved, hours seem like minutes. As mothers, we try to keep everyone happy. Most of us are pleasers at heart. We cook, clean, bandage up scraped knees, and stop arguments between siblings. We love, cry, and brush off the words "I hate you" from a teenager's mouth. We are so busy with life, sometimes we forget to enjoy it. Since the birth of our four grandchildren, I see things differently. I wish I would have read more to my girls; extended our Barbie play sessions; and taken more walks enjoying nature. In reminiscing, time spent away from them is lost time I can't recover. Mothers and fathers, take the time while your children are young. Don't miss the small stuff because you have to check email or update your Facebook status. Focus on your family. Help build the Kingdom of God!

The Gospel (Luke 10:38-42) today is one we must remember when trying to make everyone else happy:

Jesus entered a village where a woman whose name was Martha welcomed him. She had a sister named Mary who sat beside the Lord at his feet listening to him speak. Martha, burdened with much serving, came to him and said, "Lord, do you not care that my sister has left me by myself to do the serving? Tell her to help me." The Lord said to her in reply, "Martha, Martha, you are anxious and worried about many things. There is need of only one thing. Mary has chosen the better part and it will not be taken from her."

In Heaven Speaks About Stress, Jesus tells us to slow down:

"My children, why do you hurry so? Why do you feel you must move so quickly through your days? This is not the way I intended the children of God to live. You may tell Me that you have many things to do. I respond to you by saying that you are trying to do too much. You will not be holy if you move so quickly. I want My beloved apostles to move more slowly and thoughtfully through their days. I want you to make decisions on what I am asking you to do and what you are busying yourself with that is not from Me. I want your way of life to change and I am asking you to make this change now. In the next week, think about each activity and decide, with Me, if it is something I want you to do or something you want to do. My dearest apostles, I ask that you begin to remove activities that do not further My will. I want more time in silence, as you know. I want more time with families, without noise blocking you from each other. I want prayer, yes, but also conversations that are not hurried and stressed between husbands and wives, brothers and sisters, and parents and children. These are the souls I have decided you will walk through your life with and you have obligations to them. If you are too busy with your own will, you are not seeing to Mine and you are missing opportunities both to learn from others and to assist others in learning about Me."

Lay apostles, serve where you need to serve. But, if you are presented with opportunities to spend a few minutes with Christ in prayer, your children, grandchildren or spouse, leave the dishes in the sink (or whatever distraction detains you). What can you do today to make a memory? Remember, even God can't change the past.

Thank you, Lord, for showing me the importance of slowing down, focusing more on You and less on distractions that don't further Your Kingdom.

God bless,
Bonnie

Gospel Thoughts Today: Love Without Expectations

Why is it that some people only show up when they need something or it's convenient for them . . . when our expertise or faith or knowledge or compassion provides comfort or calm or direction. I'm struggling with this one today. Do we continue being the ones who show up, only to feel slighted when the courtesy is not returned? Or, do we detach with loving kindness? I'm not sure what the right answer is, but I have discovered that by detaching from the emotional side of feeling unimportant to another works for me, and uniting my feelings of rejection to Christ's. I have found by setting boundaries of what I will do and won't do contributes to a peaceful existence. I will always respond with loving kindness to anyone asking for help. The hard part for me is seeing my loved ones experience the same rejection and realizing it's time to detach. It took a lot for me to detach from my past and old patterns of behavior. We are all called to be compassionate and gentle in our responses, yet Christ is very clear in terms of when our love is not received or rejected, we must detach, dust off the dirt from our sandals and move on. And, moving on means not getting stuck in negative thoughts/behaviors. We must love without any expectations.

Today's Gospel (Luke 10:25-37) reminds us how important it is to show up:

There was a scholar of the law who stood up to test Jesus and said, “Teacher, what must I do to inherit eternal life?” Jesus said to him, “What is written in the law? How do you read it?” He said in reply, “You shall love the Lord, your God, with all your heart, with all your being, with all your strength, and with all your mind, and your neighbor as yourself.” He replied to him, “You have answered correctly; do this and you will live.”

But because he wished to justify himself, he said to Jesus,  “And who is my neighbor?” Jesus replied, “A man fell victim to robbers as he went down from Jerusalem to Jericho. They stripped and beat him and went off leaving him half-dead. A priest happened to be going down that road, but when he saw him, he passed by on the opposite side. Likewise, a Levite came to the place, and when he saw him, he passed by on the opposite side. But a Samaritan traveler who came upon him was moved with compassion at the sight. He approached the victim, poured oil and wine over his wounds and bandaged them. Then he lifted him up on his own animal, took him to an inn, and cared for him. The next day he took out two silver coins and gave them to the innkeeper with the instruction, ‘Take care of him. If you spend more than what I have given you, I shall repay you on my way back.’ Which of these three, in your opinion, was neighbor to the robbers’ victim?” He answered, “The one who treated him with mercy.” Jesus said to him, “Go and do likewise.”

In Anne a lay apostle's book Lessons in Love, she encourages us to look to Christ when the world disappoints:

"In many cases, one party must offer pure love consistently, without a return, and only over time will the other become willing to accept this pure love. It should not discourage any of us that we do not always know how to love. This should not even slow us down, any more than a small child going off to school for the first time is concerned that he does not know how to read. On the contrary, our awareness of our difficulty in loving others should make us seriously determined to show up for heaven each day, presenting ourselves to Jesus Christ as willing and eager students."

Lay apostles, we have choices. When a loved one tries to gather the family together, do you make excuses not to attend? Is this something which happens repeatedly? If it is, take a look at why you don't show up. Is it insecurity? Is it anger? Is it because of a disagreement? Figure it out. Life is too short to hold on to anger or resentment. Love without any regrets/expectations. After all, God is Love and we won't be living forever. Start practicing and show up.

Thank you, Lord, for the lessons and challenges. Please help me to see the gifts You provide in each one.

God bless,
Bonnie

Gospel Thoughts Today: Rejection Hurts

Last night Jay and I attended a showing of The Trump Prophecy (based on a true story) with some close friends. The acting was, well, not the best. But, the message was spectacular! As soon as President Trump's name was mentioned, all I could think while watching it unfold was THANK YOU GOD FOR SAVING OUR COUNTRY! The uniting of people all over the world praying for this man was overwhelming. The negativity he has endured over the last 3 years is stunning. Evil has taken hold of so many hearts . . . these are the people we must pray for in addition to our great President. And Judge Kavanaugh? I have been praying non-stop since the circus began. To live your life as a good, loving, educated, country-loving person and being treated the way the Left has treated him? My prayer is Judge Kavanaugh and his family unite themselves to Christ's Passion and persevere.

Now, imagine how Christ felt . . . talk about the ultimate rejection! Yet He continues to love us despite our flaws and rejection of Him during the course of our lives. Remember the next time you judge someone out loud, make a negative comment, or you yourself are judged . . . we are all on our own unique journey. Stand up for God, do the right thing, and work on healing within instead of spewing hatred on innocent people.

Today's Gospel (Luke 10:13-16) couldn't make it any clearer:

Jesus said to them, “Woe to you, Chorazin! Woe to you, Bethsaida! For if the mighty deeds done in your midst had been done in Tyre and Sidon, they would long ago have repented, sitting in sackcloth and ashes. But it will be more tolerable for Tyre and Sidon at the judgment than for you. And as for you, Capernaum, ‘Will you be exalted to heaven? You will go down to the netherworld.’ Whoever listens to you listens to me. Whoever rejects you rejects me.  And whoever rejects me rejects the one who sent me.”

In the Monthly Message of June 2006, Jesus showers us with encouragement to continue our climb:

"I speak to My beloved apostles today from the pain of My wounded heart. I suffer for each soul walking the earth without knowledge of My love. Despite rejection, My love cannot be limited and overflows into the world. Those who do not welcome the love of the Saviour continue in loneliness. Those who welcome My love are deluged with it. Dear apostles, I know that you are weary. You do not see the full impact of your service on the Kingdom but please believe that one day you will experience the fruits of your labour. You will exult in each act of service and each act of self-denial because you will see the act attached to all of the graces obtained from it. At that time you will marvel at My generosity. You will also thank Me for obscuring this from you during your time of service because it is through this trust that you gain both merits for your eternity and conversion graces for souls. How many sinners are pulled back into My Sacred Heart through your smallest act of trust and love in the face of scorn and mockery? Dear apostles, you must consider whether or not you yourself were called back to Me through the selfless action of another. It is in this way that we are a family."

Lay apostles, stay focused on the positive. When challenges arise, face them standing tall. Look at any roadblocks as lessons or gifts given to us from Him as a way to stay on a path to holiness. He has promised to never leave us. And, Jesus only speaks the Truth.

Thank you, Lord, for every hurdle You have placed in my path. For without them, I would never be able to bask in Your abundant, overflowing love!

God bless,
Bonnie

Gospel Thoughts Today: Changing Minds With Knowledge

Jay gets excited when he reads his IBD.  What exactly is that? Investor's Business Daily.  My eyes glaze over just thinking about it. Numbers are not my thing.  My daughter Whitney teases me about the time she was in 6th grade and I had helped her with her math homework. Her teacher told her she should get some help from her parents as she got all the problems wrong. She looked at the teacher and said, "my mom helped me." The teacher quickly suggested a tutor! Anyway, back to IBD. Years ago, Jay tried to get me interested. Showed me a funny political cartoon. Ok, funny, but not numbers.  Then he peaked my interest.  He asked if I knew a company called "Francesca's." Well of course I do . . . I have three daughters.  We clothes shopped there over the years.  It was one of the top 50 recommended stocks.  Then he asked if I knew of a store called "Ulta."  What girl doesn't? It's so easy to reject what is difficult to understand. But if you are open to accepting the truth, as complex as it may be, all of the sudden it becomes quite simple with a patient, loving teacher. Thank you, JC!

In today's Gospel (Luke 10:1-12), Jesus instructs His disciples to spread the Good News, but move on when hearts are not open to the Truth:

Jesus appointed seventy-two other disciples whom he sent ahead of him in pairs to every town and place he intended to visit. He said to them, "The harvest is abundant but the laborers are few; so ask the master of the harvest to send out laborers for his harvest. Go on your way; behold, I am sending you like lambs among wolves. Carry no money bag, no sack, no sandals; and greet no one along the way. Into whatever house you enter, first say, 'Peace to this household.' If a peaceful person lives there, your peace will rest on him; but if not, it will return to you. Stay in the same house and eat and drink what is offered to you, for the laborer deserves his payment. Do not move about from one house to another. Whatever town you enter and they welcome you, eat what is set before you, cure the sick in it and say to them, 'The Kingdom of God is at hand for you.' Whatever town you enter and they do not receive you, go out into the streets and say, 'The dust of your town that clings to our feet, even that we shake off against you.' Yet know this: the Kingdom of God is at hand. I tell you, it will be more tolerable for Sodom on that day than for that town."

In Heaven Speaks to Those Who Have Rejected God, Jesus explains what life without God is:

"I speak today with the greatest seriousness. My beloved one, you were created by God. God did not create you to reject your place in His family. You are important in this family, which includes all of mankind. To cast yourself out of God’s love is to cast yourself out of your family. You object to this, telling yourself that you do not reject mankind, only the Creator of mankind. My friend, this is like reaching into your chest and removing your heart with the goal of rejecting your heart but accepting your body. The body will not function without the heart. It cannot. In the same way, the family of God cannot function without the sustaining hand of the Father. Even the earth would fail to exist if the Father were to withdraw His benevolence. Your rejection of God proceeds from anger. You move to deny this. Perhaps you cite scientific evidence that claims to supplant God’s existence. When you die in your body and you come before Me, Jesus Christ, you will be dazzled by the extent of what humanity does not know. The body of knowledge on earth at this time, while exciting for you, is miniscule when seen against the light of the full truth that you will be allowed to explore in heaven. I bless all science of good will. God has been merciful in the extreme through science. Many men have studied science and been brought to a profound respect for the Creator through the knowledge they have gained. They will continue this study in heaven, of course, and be blessed even more. Additionally, many men who study science have served their family, humanity, profoundly through their cooperation with Me in their studies. Do you understand? They cooperate with God and God, through that cooperation, blesses humanity. It is arrogance on the part of mankind to believe that they have discovered anything that I did not wish for them to discover. You, as one of God’s created ones, must come to accept that those using science to subvert Godly principles are working against the Creator. They will be accountable for any damage done to the Kingdom of God. I am merciful to those who repent and I will be merciful to you. I speak to you today, not to condemn, but to save. I am with you. Do not reject Me."

Lay apostles, God's instructions are very simple and the end result is peace and joy.  We each are blessed with special gifts. Share those gifts willingly and lovingly. How can you change a mind toward Christ with your love and knowledge today?  Give someone Volume One? Discuss today's Gospel? There are so many ways we can shine the Light of Christ. Be open to giving and receiving.  There is so much to learn!

Thank you, Lord, for an open mind to accept the Truth. You are so easy to love.  Please help me keep an open mind to learning from Jay's IBD! 

God bless,
Bonnie

Gospel Thoughts Today: Thank You Lord For Guardian Angels!

Angels. Beautiful celestial beings God has supplied to protect us. Today we celebrate the Memorial of the Guardian Angels. This beautiful prayer comes to mind:

"Angel of God, my guardian dear, to whom God's love commits me here, ever this day (or night), be at my side, to light and guard, to rule and guide. Amen."

Sometimes I forget my Guardian Angel is around. I'm taking the longer periods of "quiet" as an indicator I am making some good choices lately. Believe me, there are times I believe all of heaven fires a million warning shots only to have me ignore my conscience and make choices based on what makes me feel better . . . not what is best for my soul. My dear angel has worked overtime in the last 40 years, saving my life a few times in the process.

When I was a freshman at Western State College in Gunnison, Colorado, I was driving over Monarch Pass home to Denver for spring break. Three other people were on board. As I came to a two-laned hairpin curve, I slowed down, and with one hand held the wheel while the other hand ejected the cassette tape (no cracks about age here!) to change the music. At that instant, the passenger in the front seat grabbed the wheel (we were about to go off a very steep cliff) and I slammed on the brakes. The combination sent my car rolling.

(This may be the exact spot my car started to roll, landing on the other side of that curve! If not, you get the idea)!

As you can see in the pic, it was either go off the cliff or slam into the mountain. Only by the grace of God, my car landed upright in a small area where cars could pull off to sightsee! Thank the Lord my passengers escaped with a few bruises. Luckily, I only broke my nose and needed a few stitches in my shoulder. My car, well, completely totaled. As I ponder this memory from so many years ago, I can only imagine my Guardian Angel petitioning very quickly for God to move a mountain . . .

Today's Gospel (Matthew 18:1-5, 10) creates awareness of how much God loves us. So much so he assigns each an angel:

The disciples approached Jesus and said, "Who is the greatest in the Kingdom of heaven?" He called a child over, placed it in their midst, and said, "Amen, I say to you, unless you turn and become like children, you will not enter the Kingdom of heaven. Whoever humbles himself like this child is the greatest in the Kingdom of heaven. And whoever receives one child such as this in my name receives me. "See that you do not despise one of these little ones, for I say to you that their angels in heaven always look upon the face of my heavenly Father."

The following quote profoundly affected my oldest daughter and me when reading this message from Jesus in Volume Nine:

"The angels surround you, My dear ones. They minister to you in so many ways that I could not clearly explain this to you. I am going to give you some idea of these heavenly friends, however, so that you will understand the strength on your side. When you attend Mass you are praying and worshipping with thousands of angels. Your guardian angel goes with you, of course, and is so grateful for the opportunity to rest in the heavenly companionship of his fellow angels. These beings of light pay rapt attention and take such joy in praising Me. Truly, each church is filled with angels. When you enter a church and find it empty, that means that you can see no other human. But there are angels present and they welcome you as they welcome your angel guardian. This loyal servant of Mine, your special guardian, prays for you without interruption. When you are safely on the path to heaven, this angel then begins to petition heaven for greater and greater spiritual gifts. Your angel can communicate with the saints in heaven and often seeks out their intercession for you. When you are working with your angel and with the saints, you will find yourself making sublime spiritual progress because the gifts being secured are of the deepest and sometimes most indiscernible variety. You are often making progress that you do not feel, little soul, but your angel is watching it closely. When something threatens your spiritual progress, your angel attempts to warn you. He does this in many ways. You often hear whisperings, what many call your conscience. This is your angel attempting to persuade you that whatever you are considering will be bad for your cause. Your angel can anticipate danger so you should always ask him to be alert and assist you."

Lay apostles, after I read the above quote years ago, every time I brought someone to Mass who really didn't believe or want to be there, I knew I was giving their Guardian Angel time for heavenly companionship. Can you imagine the scene if we were allowed a glimpse? The next time you are dragging your teenager, a friend, or a lost relative to Mass, think about his/her angel's thankfulness for the effort. Ignore the annoyance and know his/her angel is petitioning heaven for the soul they are assigned.

Thank you, Lord, for my dear Guardian Angel. I am sure I would not be here on this earth if it wasn't for this heavenly being's assistance!

God bless,
Bonnie

Gospel Thoughts Today: Loving As Jesus Loves

It's very easy to quote Scripture, to be "book smart" when describing Jesus. It's easy to talk about His work and life on earth with love and adoration. It's easy to describe His kind nature, His healing touch. We can quote Canon Law, we can quote the Catechism of the Catholic Church. But if you don't practice what you preach, it falls on deaf ears.

In today's Gospel (Luke 9:18-22), Jesus is teaching the apostles that namedropping is not allowed:

Once when Jesus was praying in solitude, and the disciples were with him, he asked them, "Who do the crowds say that I am?" They said in reply, "John the Baptist; others, Elijah; still others, 'One of the ancient prophets has arisen.'" Then he said to them, "But who do you say that I am?" Peter said in reply, "The Christ of God." He rebuked them and directed them not to tell this to anyone.

He said, "The Son of Man must suffer greatly and be rejected by the elders, the chief priests, and the scribes, and be killed and on the third day be raised."

Jesus wants us to exude Him in how we think, speak and act. Don't judge the level of faith or poor choices of another. As the old saying goes, walk a mile in my shoes . . .

In Anne a lay apostle's book Serving in Clarity, she brilliantly describes Jesus, and, lives her life as Jesus would want of all His servants:

"It is distressing to witness a spirit of pride and arrogance. We must always look for personal outrage as a marker for pride in ourselves. By this I do not refer to the outrage one feels regarding injustice done to others. This is appropriate. By this, the marker for pride, I refer to personal outrage associated with being treated less respectfully than we would like or being judged in a way that is less positive than we feel we deserve or desire. To clarify, we can go, as usual, to the Lord’s example. When people lied about Jesus personally or mistreated Him, He let it go, as in the Garden. He did not puff up and sputter in outrage. He was very consistent in behaving like a lamb. But when people planned to stone an adulteress, He stopped them. He exhibited a sense of outrage, turning the situation on its head and using it to promote non-judgmental treatment of others. Also, when He witnessed His Father’s house being used as a marketplace, He exhibited outrage, even reacting with just anger. Jesus quietly accepted personal insults and slights to Himself. He did not accept cruel behavior against people or blasphemous behavior against His Father."

Lay apostles, read, read, read. Then, practice, practice, practice. What can you do today to witness your love of Christ? Not judge another's mistakes? Defend the unborn? There are so many ways to describe Jesus in our actions. Start practicing today.

Thank you, Lord, for teaching me in addition to describing You, I must exude You, too.

God bless,
Bonnie

Gospel Thought Today: Don't Be Confused

Love and respect. Kindness and compassion. Faith, hope and charity. Words every person, let alone every Christian, should exude. I think some people are becoming confused, or maybe it's just plain ol' fear of not fitting in when standing up for Christ. Could it be some of our youth (or millennials as they are now called!) in this country didn't have role models practicing Christian values? What kind of examples were set or are being set for our children and grandchildren? Who is to blame for this lack of faith blatantly blasted at us on all the liberal news stations? The answer is, we only have ourselves to blame. Yes, we are influenced by our childhood. Yes, our parents unknowingly (and in some cases knowingly) contributed to how we think and assess situations, ourselves and others. But once we become adults, there are no more excuses. We can make the necessary changes needed in our lives by the choices we make every day. Let's begin today by showing no fear when protecting Our Lord's sacred name. As a matter of fact, we must stop being silent when our sweet Jesus is slandered or mocked. He is a God of mercy . . . clear up any confusion or fear within first. Pick up a Volume and get to know Him. Open the Bible to learn about His short life on this earth. Love Him as He loves us.

Today's Gospel (Luke 9:7-9) shows Herod very confused about who Jesus is . . .

Herod the tetrarch heard about all that was happening, and he was greatly perplexed because some were saying, "John has been raised from the dead"; others were saying, "Elijah has appeared"; still others, "One of the ancient prophets has arisen." But Herod said, "John I beheaded. Who then is this about whom I hear such things?" And he kept trying to see him.

In Volume Three, Our Lady teaches us to seek the good, not be confused, and trust in her Son:

"My dear souls, dedicated to Jesus, I wish to teach you more about goodness. Goodness comes from God. All goodness is rooted in heaven and blooms on earth. Your world is filled with a false goodness, that is really malice, disguised. Your world speaks of choice and lauds the choice of the individual. Well, this is fine, if a soul is choosing God. But to choose against the natural order, set down by God, is to bring the wrath of God down upon the world. These people are not working for goodness and their motives are not good. Do not feel compelled to pay homage to the modern concept of good any longer. Instead, ask the Holy Spirit to help you identify true goodness, the kind that is rooted in heaven, and the Spirit will direct you to examples. This same spirit of truth, will uncover the dark motives and malice of those who talk about good and work for bad. Now, do not be confused or concerned. When you see these individuals spouting their lies, you have felt confusion and suspicion. It is that suspicion I wish to direct your attention to. Pay attention to those feelings and trust a little bit more in your holy instincts. Look at the fruits of various campaigns. Does a certain approach bear good fruit? And by that I mean does it bring souls into a unity with each other and with the Creator? You are not secular, dear ones. Please do not try to be."

Lay apostles, don't let lies and venomous words confuse, causing doubt in God. Rely on your holy instincts as Our Lady states above. Don't react, pray for the offenders. And just remember, What Would Jesus Do?

Thank you, Lord, for patience and compassion for those spouting evil and hate. Please continue to provide me with Your shield of hope and forgiveness.

God bless,
Bonnie

Gospel Thoughts Today: Win Others Over (WOO)

Jay and I participated in a "Strengths" course at our church a few years ago. Jay enjoyed it . . . a lot! For me, well, not exactly my cup of tea. Let me explain. Those who know me are aware I am not a shy person . . . to say the least! I tend to become a little animated when I talk about something in which I feel passionate. Our group (about 6 couples and 5 singles) was a bit on the not-so-animated-quiet-unless-forced-to-talk side. It took everything in me to not be the one talking or answering the leader's questions when everyone stared mutely. Grant it, there were others participating. And they are all good people I know or have seen at Mass. But not the most interactive crowd. The reason I bring all of this up is one of my strengths is WOO (win others over). Oh, and Positivity (Jay was a little perplexed when I got this strength and he didn't!). Because I am a WOO, I struggle introducing the Volumes to people, they smile politely or take a book, then who knows where the precious Volume ends up. After being a lay apostle for over 12 years, I have learned from Anne and Fr. Darragh the importance of being the introduction to Jesus. And, walk away knowing everything is in His capable hands when the receiving party is not jumping for joy that they have been handed a life-changing book. Quite frankly, I'm thrilled Jesus wants the job of conversion! I wouldn't get much accomplished if it were up to me! So I am trying to calm down the WOO in me. But I am thankful for it as it drives me to spread the Good News through my writing and connections. Jay and I talk about how wonderful the world would be if EVERYONE was a lay apostle . . .

In today's Gospel (Luke 9:1-6), Jesus offers us His advice on planting the seed and walking away:

Jesus summoned the Twelve and gave them power and authority over all demons and to cure diseases, and he sent them to proclaim the Kingdom of God and to heal the sick. He said to them, “Take nothing for the journey, neither walking stick, nor sack, nor food, nor money, and let no one take a second tunic. Whatever house you enter, stay there and leave from there. And as for those who do not welcome you, when you leave that town, shake the dust from your feet in testimony against them.” Then they set out and went from village to village proclaiming the good news and curing diseases everywhere.

In Volume One, Jesus reminds us where our strength lies:

"Focus your strength and energy on serving Me in your day. Before you speak, ask yourself if what you are going to say is of value. Before you offer an opinion, be certain you have given this thought consideration. Do not lead others astray, as I am warning you not to be led astray. Silence is necessary now, as we have said. Useless conversations add to the constant din of noise that leaves the spirit no peace. You will not understand what I need from you, dear children, unless you are quiet and thoughtful. Also, this quietness encourages My Spirit to rest within you, and you will feel that presence. You will then speak with authority and correctness. And you will begin to offer opinions and counsel that have value and direction, instead of merely adding to the noise of this present world. Be at peace now, in all of your troubles. I want My children to move through their days with confidence, even if they are carrying crosses for Me. The heavier the cross, dear ones, the closer I will be. Do not fear. You will not be left in the wilderness. I call My own to Me and My own know Me."

Lay apostles, we are called to be representatives of His Light on earth. What are your strengths and how are you using them? If you are blessed with wealth, are you using your money to spread the Volumes/the Good News/feed the poor? Or, is it a bigger house, fancier car, or designer clothes you strive for? Whatever your strengths, use them all for His Glory. When you do, watch the graces pour in. We have multiple opportunities every day to let others see Christ in us. How are you going to use your strengths today to make someone see Jesus in your eyes with a kind smile or words of love and encouragement?

Thank you, Lord, for the strengths You have given me. Please help me to use them in the best possible way, for Your Glory, not mine.

God bless,
Bonnie

Gospel Thoughts Today: A Call To Action

There are times in our lives when we feel beaten down . . . sometimes the feeling is we are not good enough, smart enough, faithful enough, or you-fill-in-the-blank enough. Despite how others treat us, we only have to please one Person . . . Christ. We are always good enough for Him. Think about it this way . . . who are the people consistently loving and supporting you? There is nothing you wouldn't do for them in return, right? Fight for them, love them, comfort them. So why do we treat Our Heavenly Father with sporadic trust? As Christians, we must walk the walk. And, not just occasionally. It's time for action my dear fellow lay apostles. It's time to give Him our complete attention and trust, just as we do for those we love on earth.

In today's Gospel (Luke 8:19-21), Jesus makes a very clear point: it's easy to talk the talk, but you also have to walk the walk:

The mother of Jesus and his brothers came to him but were unable to join him because of the crowd. He was told, “Your mother and your brothers are standing outside and they wish to see you.” He said to them in reply, “My mother and my brothers  are those who hear the word of God and act on it.”

In Volume One, our Blessed Mother advises her children on earth to take action:

"Remember to pray, children. In this way, every action throughout your day can be sanctified. Think of all the small tasks you complete, barely giving any thought to them. If you offer them to us with love, we can use even the smallest action for the salvation of sinners. It is time now to pay attention. Do not put our words down and forget them. I want you to act in obedience to our words and let them change your life. It will feel like the most natural thing in the world, this transition to holiness. Once you make the decision, begin to pray. Once you begin to pray, obedience will come naturally. After obedience, we can move you swiftly to great levels of holiness. My dear one, you will then see the coming of God’s kingdom."

Lay apostles, young or old, it is never too late to be a part of God's Renewal. Strive to do His Will and continue on the path to salvation. You can change your life.  I did.  Accept the fact you are worthy of His Love and make peace with your past. Once you do, you will be amazed at all the beauty despite the thorns.

Thank you, Lord, for quick recoveries and a joyful spirit.  Your spiritual bulletproof armor is working well!

God bless,
Bonnie

Gospel Thoughts Today: The Problem Solver

When chaos abounds, I try to remember God is teaching me some kind of lesson.  The problem is, the more flustered and bombarded I become, the more I find myself trying to solve my own problems without Christ as my shield/counselor. This just doesn't work! I need to look at every situation through His eyes. He softens the sharpness of difficult encounters. Every morning He allows me to wake up and encounter the world, I must remember to put on my Christ-armor through prayer and thanksgiving. Every day is a new opportunity to start again. Beginning my day with Him on my heart and in my mind, the world seems a much easier place to navigate.

In today's Gospel (Luke 8:16-18), Jesus teaches the crowd to shine His Light:

Jesus said to the crowd: "No one who lights a lamp conceals it with a vessel or sets it under a bed; rather, he places it on a lampstand so that those who enter may see the light. For there is nothing hidden that will not become visible, and nothing secret that will not be known and come to light. Take care, then, how you hear. To anyone who has, more will be given, and from the one who has not, even what he seems to have will be taken away."

In Anne a lay apostle's book The Mist of Mercy, she hits the nail on the head in dealing with problems:

"It will help to look beyond the one who attacks us to the possible author of that person’s thoughts. Anger, while inevitable at times, can be a waste of energy. We must save our strength and direct it to serving God and allowing His Kingdom to come through us on every single day. When we identify symptoms of the devil’s anger or resistance, it helps to ask the following question: What is it that the enemy seeks to spoil? Quite often the answer will be peace, be it peace in the home, the workplace, or the world at large. Or the enemy could seek to destroy a relationship that is necessary for God’s plan to advance. Remember that the enemy is the destroyer of peace. We must always work to establish and maintain peace. I try to look at situations in two ways. I consider first, what is it that the enemy would like me to do? How is the devil setting me up? Then I consider what decision or response would please Jesus most. What does Jesus want me to do? Therein lay both the struggle and the opportunity for holiness. The soul groans. Humanity objects. Growth pains are evident. There are times when we say, “Lord, it’s too hard.” At times we fail. But if we can learn to identify and distinguish between the Lord’s way and the enemy’s way, we are at least in the game. We must be prepared for battle by being smaller, meeker, and more humble than God’s enemy. Our Leader was meek and humble of heart, after all. Forgiveness was a way of life for Jesus."

I want to end with a beautiful poem I heard in Mass years ago and never forgot:

The Race

                Attributed to Dr. D.H. "Dee" Groberg

Whenever I start to hang my head in front of failure’s face, 

    my downward fall is broken by the memory of a race. 

A children’s race, young boys, young men; how I remember well, 

    excitement sure, but also fear, it wasn’t hard to tell. 

They all lined up so full of hope, each thought to win that race 

    or tie for first, or if not that, at least take second place. 

Their parents watched from off the side, each cheering for their son, 

    and each boy hoped to show his folks that he would be the one.

The whistle blew and off they flew, like chariots of fire, 

    to win, to be the hero there, was each young boy’s desire. 

One boy in particular, whose dad was in the crowd, 

    was running in the lead and thought “My dad will be so proud.” 

But as he speeded down the field and crossed a shallow dip, 

    the little boy who thought he’d win, lost his step and slipped. 

Trying hard to catch himself, his arms flew everyplace, 

    and midst the laughter of the crowd he fell flat on his face. 

As he fell, his hope fell too; he couldn’t win it now. 

    Humiliated, he just wished to disappear somehow.

But as he fell his dad stood up and showed his anxious face, 

    which to the boy so clearly said, “Get up and win that race!” 

He quickly rose, no damage done, behind a bit that’s all, 

    and ran with all his mind and might to make up for his fall. 

So anxious to restore himself, to catch up and to win, 

    his mind went faster than his legs. He slipped and fell again. 

He wished that he had quit before with only one disgrace. 

    “I’m hopeless as a runner now, I shouldn’t try to race.”

But through the laughing crowd he searched and found his father’s face 

    with a steady look that said again, “Get up and win that race!” 

So he jumped up to try again, ten yards behind the last. 

    “If I’m to gain those yards,” he thought, “I’ve got to run real fast!” 

Exceeding everything he had, he regained eight, then ten... 

    but trying hard to catch the lead, he slipped and fell again. 

Defeat! He lay there silently. A tear dropped from his eye. 

    “There’s no sense running anymore! Three strikes I’m out! Why try? 

I’ve lost, so what’s the use?” he thought. “I’ll live with my disgrace.” 

    But then he thought about his dad, who soon he’d have to face.

“Get up,” an echo sounded low, “you haven’t lost at all, 

    for all you have to do to win is rise each time you fall. 

Get up!” the echo urged him on, “Get up and take your place! 

    You were not meant for failure here! Get up and win that race!” 

So, up he rose to run once more, refusing to forfeit, 

    and he resolved that win or lose, at least he wouldn’t quit. 

So far behind the others now, the most he’d ever been, 

    still he gave it all he had and ran like he could win. 

Three times he’d fallen stumbling, three times he rose again. 

    Too far behind to hope to win, he still ran to the end.

They cheered another boy who crossed the line and won first place, 

    head high and proud and happy -- no falling, no disgrace. 

But, when the fallen youngster crossed the line, in last place, 

    the crowd gave him a greater cheer for finishing the race. 

And even though he came in last with head bowed low, unproud, 

    you would have thought he’d won the race, to listen to the crowd. 

And to his dad he sadly said, “I didn’t do so well.” 

    “To me, you won,” his father said. “You rose each time you fell.”

And now when things seem dark and bleak and difficult to face, 

    the memory of that little boy helps me in my own race. 

For all of life is like that race, with ups and downs and all. 

    And all you have to do to win is rise each time you fall. 

And when depression and despair shout loudly in my face, 

    another voice within me says, “Get up and win that race!”

Thank you, Lord, for the armor You and Our Lady protect me with.  All I can say is, thank You, thank You, thank You!

God bless,
Bonnie

Gospel Thoughts Today: The Difference Between Mercy and Sacrifice

Let's start with two definitions (from Dictionary.com):

1. Mercy - compassionate or kindly forbearance shown toward an offender, an enemy, or other person in one's power; compassion, pity, or benevolence

2. Sacrifice - the surrender or destruction of something prized or desirable for the sake of something considered as having a higher or more pressing claim

Now, let's read today's Gospel (Matthew 9:9-13):

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."

After reading this, I decided to do as Jesus asks . . . "Go and learn the meaning of the words . . ." By definition, I completely understand what Jesus means. Mercy is forgiving and sacrifice is suffering. Which is the more difficult challenge? Hands down, forgiving offenders. I would gladly suffer for Christ, my husband, my children, grandchildren and all those I love. I would stand in front of a bullet for them . . . die for them. There is no suffering so great it could deter me from protecting what is most important in my life. But the whole mercy thing . . . why is it so hard to forgive our offenders? And, how do we forgive those who continually want to disrupt our lives? Mercy. Jesus desires this of us. By using the word "desires" in Scripture today, Jesus is basically declaring He knows we aren't perfect and we won't always get it right. However, if we are doing our best to be merciful, He will be pleased. There have been many times I've refrained from rebuttal emails which could agitate an already difficult situation; or just plain ol' keeping my opinion to myself . . . and pray for the person disrupting the peace I work so hard to maintain!

In Heaven Speaks to Those Who Struggle to Forgive, Jesus teaches us by having mercy for others, we obtain mercy for ourselves:

"Bitterness characterizes My enemy. Forgiveness characterizes Me. You, a beloved little child of God, seek to find peace in your heart. You will only find peace if you step into the stream of goodness. This stream is like a river of grace with which I desire to bathe you, removing all pain and injury. What will remain in your soul is joy. This joy, this heavenly peace, will be obtained by accepting your flaws and accepting the flaws of others. You see, My friend, if you accept the flaws and sins of others, you will soften in attitude toward yourself. I love you. I accept you. I need you to accept yourself so that you will be at peace in My Kingdom and it is through forgiving others that you will find acceptance of your own humanity."

Lay apostles, did you offend someone today? Apologize. Were you offended? Have mercy. Did you make a poor choice you regret? Accept it and forgive yourself. Do as Jesus desires . . .

Thank you, Lord, for giving me words of wisdom, showing me the value of mercy is priceless. Please continue to redirect my thoughts when I want so badly to debate!

God bless,
Bonnie

Gospel Thoughts Today: Am I Worthy?

Last month, as I was driving to a hair appointment with my 6-year-old grandson Colton in tow, he began fussing with the seat belt strap across his chest. He is now big enough to take out the internal straps of his car seat, using the vehicle seat belt in its place. His reason for fussing? He does not like it when the seat belt "locks" restricting his ability to view everything outside passing by! I started to explain how important the "lock" feature was to his safety, giving him the example of getting rear-ended. I told him if he wasn't "locked" in, he could possibly fly through the front windshield, and there was no way he was going to heaven before me . . . I wanted to see him grow up into a man, get married, and have my great grandchildren! As I spoke, I watched him in my rearview mirror. He became very quiet, and then said, "Mimi, then I want to be 56 right now and die when you do." Oh man, did my heart burst with joy, love, and gratefulness at that moment!

At times I wonder how I am worthy of such love. Every once in a while, evil rears its ugly head reminding me of past sins, causing me to question my worthiness.  Luckily, doubts can dissipate quickly with the love and support of family and friends. But most importantly, Jesus forgives the sinner. And we must believe we are forgiven.  In the Bible, the Volumes and all of Anne's books, Jesus desires His lay apostles be joyful and experience happiness by living in communion with Him.  So I have decided I am worthy of and very grateful for the happiness Jesus bestows. Hard times and difficult situations will always disturb us on our path to holiness. It's inevitable. But if we live each day in thankfulness for whatever He sends our way, good or bad, know He counts us worthy of His Love. 

Today's Gospel (Luke 7:36-50) reminds us the sins of others aren't any greater or any less than our own.  We are all worthy of forgiveness:

A certain Pharisee invited Jesus to dine with him, and he entered the Pharisee's house and reclined at table. Now there was a sinful woman in the city who learned that he was at table in the house of the Pharisee. Bringing an alabaster flask of ointment, she stood behind him at his feet weeping and began to bathe his feet with her tears. Then she wiped them with her hair, kissed them, and anointed them with the ointment. When the Pharisee who had invited him saw this he said to himself, "If this man were a prophet, he would know who and what sort of woman this is who is touching him, that she is a sinner." Jesus said to him in reply, "Simon, I have something to say to you." "Tell me, teacher," he said.

"Two people were in debt to a certain creditor; one owed five hundred days' wages and the other owed fifty. Since they were unable to repay the debt, he forgave it for both. Which of them will love him more?" Simon said in reply, "The one, I suppose, whose larger debt was forgiven." He said to him, "You have judged rightly." Then he turned to the woman and said to Simon, "Do you see this woman? When I entered your house, you did not give me water for my feet, but she has bathed them with her tears and wiped them with her hair. You did not give me a kiss, but she has not ceased kissing my feet since the time I entered. You did not anoint my head with oil, but she anointed my feet with ointment. So I tell you, her many sins have been forgiven; hence, she has shown great love. But the one to whom little is forgiven, loves little." He said to her, "Your sins are forgiven." The others at table said to themselves, "Who is this who even forgives sins?" But he said to the woman, "Your faith has saved you; go in peace."

In Anne a lay apostle's book The Mist of Mercy, the following quote is crucial when asking God for forgiveness through the Sacrament of Reconciliation if you are Catholic:
 
"God offers us forgiveness, regardless of the sins we have committed. God’s forgiveness has no strings or limits attached. God’s forgiveness does not come and go. God does not make forgiveness available one day and then withdraw the offer of it the next day. The forgiveness of God is and always will be. Like everything else about God, His forgiveness is perfect. Once it is given, it will not be taken away. God’s forgiveness does not rely on anything in us. Are you sorry for your sins? If the answer is yes, then you have nothing to worry about. Go to Confession if you are a Catholic and everything will be fine. Some people recall a bad experience in Confession. They cite this as the reason they no longer go to Confession or indeed pray or go to Mass. This is heartbreaking. Be aware that Jesus calls priests from the group that is humanity. Priests are human. If a priest behaved badly to you, God will deal with him. Be assured that the Lord knows the sins of His priests. We must also be assured that when we die and stand before God, He will not ask us what everyone else did wrong. He will ask us for an account of OUR life. Look past the priest to Jesus Christ. Do not allow a bad experience to pull you away from God’s love and from all that He offers through His Church. It is good for people to understand that there is no limit to God’s forgiveness. Some people think that their sins, their malice and the damage they have done to others, makes it impossible for God to forgive them. They feel they will always be permanently excluded from God’s family. This is only possible if a person refuses to repent and wishes to be excluded. Some people think they do not want to go to Confession and confess their past sins because it means they are making a commitment to perfection. They think, I’m not ready to be perfect. I’m not ready to change. I’m not ready to completely give up some of my habits or behaviors. Please, please, please do not let this stop you from going to Confession. Jesus knows you will fail again. He accepts this. If there is the smallest desire in you to try to do the smallest bit better for God, then you should go to Confession and let Christ, through the priest, help you. Conversion is an ongoing thing. We do not become perfect in a day. We do not even become perfect in a lifetime."

Lay apostles, what has made you happy today?  Is it the beauty of the sun shining through storm clouds? A grandchild expressing his love?  Whatever it is, no matter how small, look for the joy instead of the sorrow. Be thankful He finds each of us worthy. 

Thank you, Lord, for allowing me to feel worthy of happiness.  Help me to overcome the times when I feel I don't deserve it.  I have never been happier in my life.  And it's all because of You!

God bless,
Bonnie

Gospel Thoughts Today: Emotional Puberty

Puberty.  Immaturity.  Adolescence.  Days of change, growth, and hormones. As the mother of three daughters, it appeared to be never-ending. None of our "cycles" coincided. So, once a week it never failed . . . someone was in a foul mood.  Random mornings getting ready for school an argument would break out about borrowing clothes without permission, taking too long in the bathroom, or just plain annoyance for no reason . . . just because. What is a mother to do?  Pray for sanity!  It does pass and they do eventually grow up (thank you, Jesus!).

Our journey as Christians is a form of emotional puberty.  We shoot for maturity but will hit bumps along the road.  Lots of bumps.  We question Scripture, we become irritated when the teachings in the Bible don't coincide with our beliefs . . . or, to put it another way, our indiscretions.  So many blind themselves from the truth of their sins because it's too hard not getting what you want or desire. For example, becoming pro-choice if you have had an abortion (or know someone close to you who has) when the Bible says you should not kill. When I had an abortion at age 18, I didn't want to be tied down with a child.  In my mind, it would have put an end to my going away to college and having freedom from the crushing pressure of taking care of a mother with mental illness. So I did it and made myself feel justified in the decision. Of course, over time, I came to realize the choice I made was immature after I had committed such a mature act. As the old saying goes, if I only knew then what I know now, I would have made a different decision. It all boils down to this: grow up and begin to mature spiritually.  Look at your sins, those buried deep inside causing you to make decisions based on what justifies those sins, and stop denying the truth. It's a harsh reality, but Jesus is worth it!

Today's Gospel (Luke 7:31-35) finds Jesus a little frustrated with immaturity:

Jesus said to the crowds: "To what shall I compare the people of this generation? What are they like? They are like children who sit in the marketplace and call to one another,

'We played the flute for you, but you did not dance. We sang a dirge, but you did not weep.'

For John the Baptist came neither eating food nor drinking wine, and you said, 'He is possessed by a demon.' The Son of Man came eating and drinking and you said, 'Look, he is a glutton and a drunkard, a friend of tax collectors and sinners.' But wisdom is vindicated by all her children."

In Anne a lay apostle's book Whispers From the Cross, she couldn't have made a better point about spiritual immaturity and why we need to move past emotional puberty:

"People look different when we are looking at them through the eyes of Christ than they do when we look at them through the eyes of the enemy of Christ. God’s eyes will always look compassionately on a person. This does not mean that Christ’s eyes are blinded to truth. On the contrary, it is perfect truth to say that the eyes of the Savior view with complete truth. We can be observers of those around us and also be compassionate, keeping the flaws of others in perspective. Immature spirituality focuses on sin, sin and more sin. All day long, the newcomer thinks about sin, in himself and others. Now when a person is learning a new sport, the rules are explained to him and the novice begins participation by trying not to break the rules. There is no other way. If you do not learn the rules, you cannot play the game with any success. But this must eventually blend into a more advanced performance where the athlete is freed from the constant worry about breaking the rules as he rises to a level of participation where he experiences the beauty of the sport."

Lay apostles, are you making excuses for breaking the rules of our faith?  Are you blaming or condemning others because they don't agree with your new version of the rules? If you are a follower of Christ, listen to His Words.  He is the Truth. If you are living a life making exceptions to His rules, rethink what you are doing. He is so merciful and forgives easily when His children ask and then live their lives accordingly. None of us are perfect.  Not one. But if we try to live our lives in commitment to Him, we will move through emotional puberty to emotional maturity.

Thank you, Lord, for the lessons I have learned the hard way and in retrospect.  I will continue to work on my emotional and spiritual maturity . . . and I apologize in advance if I revert back to puberty once in a while!

God bless,
Bonnie

Gospel Thoughts Today: Positive Changes Can Be Frightening

Everything comes with a price.  Everybody expects something in return. From an early age, I developed the attitude of "I can do it myself."  Repercussions, when I didn't live up to the expectations of others, could be brutal, despite doing the best I could.  I learned to rely on myself, having very little trust in the good deeds performed on my behalf. Just when I would think the winds were shifting in my direction, a hurricane would appear out of nowhere. Inconsistency drives me nuts. So, what happens when someone consistently acts in a loving manner toward me with no expectations of anything in return?  Revolt, of course, right? Revert back to my old ways, keeping the wall of bricks around my heart? It's a scary thing when a change occurs . . . being vulnerable and believing I am worth loving.  But trusting in Jesus as I do, I have let myself become exposed.  The result is I have found true love.  Good changes can be frightening, but accepting the good with love and thankfulness is heavenly.

Today's Gospel (Luke 7:11-17) teaches us to believe in good changes knowing the Lord can do all things:

Jesus journeyed to a city called Nain, and his disciples and a large crowd accompanied him. As he drew near to the gate of the city, a man who had died was being carried out, the only son of his mother, and she was a widow. A large crowd from the city was with her. When the Lord saw her, he was moved with pity for her and said to her, "Do not weep." He stepped forward and touched the coffin; at this the bearers halted, and he said, "Young man, I tell you, arise!" The dead man sat up and began to speak, and Jesus gave him to his mother. Fear seized them all, and they glorified God, exclaiming, "A great prophet has arisen in our midst," and "God has visited his people." This report about him spread through the whole of Judea and in all the surrounding region.

In Volume One, Our Lady lovingly guides us straight to her Son assuring change for Him is the path to salvation:

"Remember to pray, children. In this way, every action throughout your day can be sanctified. Think of all the small tasks you complete, barely giving any thought to them. If you offer them to us with love, we can use even the smallest action for the salvation of sinners. It is time now to pay attention. Do not put our words down and forget them. I want you to act in obedience to our words and let them change your life. It will feel like the most natural thing in the world, this transition to holiness. Once you make the decision, begin to pray. Once you begin to pray, obedience will come naturally. After obedience, we can move you swiftly to great levels of holiness. My dear one, you will then see the coming of God’s kingdom. The more you obey, the more we can reveal to you. There are many souls who allow their lives to be led by the enemy. They are leading others after them. This must cease. Answer “yes” to your mother and feel the closeness of Jesus, my Son. He will change you and introduce great beauty to your life. Be at peace as you follow the path to holiness. We are with you, and ask only that you do your best."

Lay apostles, what's changing in your life right now?  A new job?  A new relationship? A child leaving for college? Whatever it is, let go of fear and look for the good in these changes. Believe Jesus is leading you on a journey and has your back.  Look at each new situation as a chance to shine the Light of Jesus with love and compassion.  If things don't work out the way you expected, know Jesus is taking you off course to avoid a wipeout. Face every day with the knowledge you are loved, no matter what, by our heavenly Father. He is all we need.  Everyone else is icing on the cake!

Thank you, Lord, for teaching me to be open to change, accepting the fact I am worthy of love and respect. Because of my full trust in You, You led Jay to me. I am forever grateful!

God bless,
Bonnie

Gospel Thoughts Today: Be Grateful to Those Who Serve Us

Beware of people who are rude to waiters/servers! The advice I wish I had been given at a much younger age. In my pharmaceutical days as a Medical Liaison, I had a boss at one time who treated servers as if they were idiots. I dreaded going out to eat when we were together as a group. I found myself always trying to make up for his poor behavior by complementing the server (and, I really didn't want to consume anyone else's spit other than my own!). As a former waitress in my high school days, I was treated similarly at times. Well, I won't go into what ended up in, uh, coffee or a salad? ;-) Terrible on my part but such satisfaction at the time. Maybe that's why I am so grateful for anyone serving me. It's a tough job and we don't walk in any other shoes but our own. What about when we are on the receiving end of the rudeness from a server? Not my monkey, not my circus! I can choose to either be rude back or let it go and remain focused on the joy of being a Christian . . . which requires a lot of forgiveness in certain situations and at a moment's notice. I am not perfect, but the more I see through the eyes of Jesus, the more tolerant I automatically become.

Today's Gospel (Luke 7:1-10) finds Jesus amazed by a man's great faith and love of his servant:

When Jesus had finished all his words to the people, he entered Capernaum. A centurion there had a slave who was ill and about to die, and he was valuable to him. When he heard about Jesus, he sent elders of the Jews to him, asking him to come and save the life of his slave. They approached Jesus and strongly urged him to come, saying, "He deserves to have you do this for him, for he loves our nation and he built the synagogue for us." And Jesus went with them, but when he was only a short distance from the house, the centurion sent friends to tell him, "Lord, do not trouble yourself, for I am not worthy to have you enter under my roof. Therefore, I did not consider myself worthy to come to you; but say the word and let my servant be healed. For I too am a person subject to authority, with soldiers subject to me. And I say to one, 'Go,' and he goes; and to another, 'Come here,' and he comes; and to my slave, 'Do this,' and he does it." When Jesus heard this he was amazed at him and, turning, said to the crowd following him, "I tell you, not even in Israel have I found such faith." When the messengers returned to the house, they found the slave in good health.

In the June 2012 Monthly Message, Jesus lovingly acknowledges His lay apostles' commitment to furthering His Kingdom:

"I am pleased when I see holiness increasing in My friends and this increase in holiness is what gives Me hope for the Church. Yes, I am urging My followers toward sacrifice and service and many of you are answering with your whole hearts. You, listening to My words and allowing them to change you, are giving Me great hope. With this hope I push on into the world, confident, that while some resist change, others embrace it. Yes, change is happening, most especially in the heart of every committed apostle. You are becoming holier. As you are becoming holier, My Church is becoming holier. Apostles, hear this call with all seriousness. I, Jesus, have everything needed to advance the Church into greater unity. And I, Jesus, can do this as quickly as you will allow Me. Find Me in your soul in each moment you are questioning your role in the Kingdom. I will direct you."

Lay apostles, be thankful to those who serve us.  From the waitress serving you coffee to the mechanic fixing your brakes to the dentist filling your tooth.  We all serve in some capacity, don't we?  Serve unconditionally for love of Christ. Every kind gesture made shines His Light on a dark world. What can you do today to serve another? 

Thank you, Lord, for changing my perspective to more and more resemble Yours. Give me a nudge when I am seeing through worldly eyes!

God bless,
Bonnie

Gospel Thoughts Today: Hanging With Jesus For Eternity!

I once had a hospice physician tell me an atheist's end of life is the most difficult to deal with. There is no consoling them as they have no belief in eternal life through Jesus Christ. They hang on to life out of fear. I can't even imagine thinking when I die it is the end of everything I know. If you or someone you know think this way, read the Gospels and read the Volumes! Yes, being a follower of Jesus Christ the Returning King requires full commitment to Him. Yes, you will have to let go of earthly addictions and ways of thinking. Yes, your life will drastically change. Is it all worth eternal life? If what I have to say matters, my answer is YES! I have no fear of death . . . none! I know my earthly death is only the beginning of an eternal life lived in harmony with Jesus. And, who doesn't want to hang with Him for eternity?

In today's Gospel (John 3: 13-17) Jesus gives Nicodemus the answer to eternal life:

Jesus said to Nicodemus: "No one has gone up to heaven except the one who has come down from heaven, the Son of Man. And just as Moses lifted up the serpent in the desert, so must the Son of Man be lifted up, so that everyone who believes in him may have eternal life."

For God so loved the world that he gave his only Son, so that everyone who believes in him might not perish but might have eternal life. For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world might be saved through him. 

In Volume Two, Jesus asks us to come to Him when we struggle with our earthly preoccupations:

"If you let Me tell you of My love for you, you will begin to understand how irreplaceable you are to Me. Your gifts, strengths, and skills were given to you so that you could further My Kingdom on earth, as an obedient and loving child looks after the interests of his father. But, for some time now, you have not done that. You have looked after your own interests, either through the slavery of addiction or through the quest for worldly goods and sensual experiences. My child, I know you feel this is your business and perhaps you feel you hurt only yourself. I tell you now that you are My child, I love you, and I take it very personally when you hurt yourself. I am telling you now to stop. Stop any behavior that is separating you from Me. Are you unsure what those behaviors are? Come to Me, here in the tabernacle, and I will tell you exactly which behaviors I refer to. You know already, as you read these words. You must not trade these behaviors for your eternal life, My child. You must not. That is the second part of the reason why I compel you to return to Me. The third reason you must change your behavior is because I need you. I am your God, the God of All, and truly I say to you, I need you. There are souls in your world that only you can save. You must be working for Me to save them, because I have to tell you how and you have to be listening. So please, little souls of My heart, come to Me now, because the first part of the reason compelling your return is that I love you and separation from you is making My heart ache with loneliness."

Lay apostles, we have been given the words of Jesus and all of heaven in the Volumes and every book Anne has written. This is a very special gift! If you have read the words, live the words! Believe in the Gospels!

Thank you, Lord, for leading me to this apostolate. Boy, did You know what I needed! Can't wait to thank You in person someday!

God bless,
Bonnie