Love In Words and Actions

(Scripture from 08Oct2012 - babysitting my grandson won over writing!)

My oldest daughter lived in Salamanca, Spain her junior year of college. She had already been away from home in Colorado her freshman and sophomore years, so as tough as the distance was for me, I adjusted. At least she was in the same country.  But when she left for Salamanca, I was not a quick plane trip away anymore.  It's a scary thing when your child is independent.  It's also incredibly endearing. At the end of Mal's year abroad (she studied at the University of Salamanca), she was walking with some friends through the main plaza speaking in English when a man (anti-American she presumed) ran up to her and punched her in the jaw. Long story short, he fractured her jaw. I received the call after the ER visit. First thing I wanted to do was jump on a plane and take care of my baby girl. But the kindness of friends and strangers provided the love and care she needed.  She assured me she was just fine. Experiences like this demonstrate the need to love our neighbors unconditionally, lending a helping hand to those alone or far away from home.

The Gospel today (Luke 10:25-37) includes a very clear parable from Jesus regarding love of neighbor:

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 Volume Seven, St. Daniel encourages us to serve others, not ourselves:

"Dear brothers and sisters, never worry about death. Please. Death is the greatest liberation you can imagine. God has the day of your death already established. It will come. And you will be ready if you serve Christ. You will have no regrets. You would not want to surrender your body to Jesus and feel as though you missed the whole point of your life. Serve, my beloved friends. Serve. Serve Jesus. Serve each other. Serve strangers. Serve. The last shall be first. Do not seek to be bigger than your earthly companions. Do not seek earthly respect and homage. Seek only to serve and through your service you will perfect your precious soul, which will join me here. We will greet you, you can be assured. We will rejoice in your coming and you will thank us for these words, particularly if you take them to your heart and let them change you. In these words you will find the greatest of wisdom. You will see that. You will not see the graces that flow from these words into your souls and through your actions for others. But you will discern the graces by a new reflective quiet. You will consider your eternity and what you would like to do to prepare for it. You have been given this day, or rather this moment. Do you know for certain that you will see the end of this day? You do not. Perhaps this moment, these next few moments, will be your last opportunity to claim something for Jesus."

Lay apostles, what can you do today to serve others? Babysit for a sleep (or exercise!) deprived young mother? Visit the elderly in a nursing home? Call a sick friend?  Whatever it is, just serve and love and serve again. And most importantly, serve with no expectations of service in return.  

Thank you, Lord, for the ability to serve others.  Continue to present opportunities to love and care for those who are far away from home. Let my words and actions shine Your Love on all.

God bless,

Bonnie

You Can Run, But You Can't Hide

Yesterday, my daughter sent me a text message with a picture of my grandson. Next to her side of the bed hangs a calendar with the Blessed Mother as the main picture. Before my grandson began smiling at his parents, he was smiling at the picture of Our Lady. Every time. Whitney would tell me about this but I never had the privilege of seeing it. Until now:

"His daily smile at Mother Mary" (what my daughter text me!)

Wow, right? This picture made me contemplate my relationship with God our Father. Just as a new mother nurtures and loves her infant, God nurtures and loves us. An infant needs constant attention and relies on his mother for his very being. She knows every sound uttered, every cry and every coo. We, as God's children, have a Father who hears every word, sees every action, knows every thought.  Why do so many try to run and hide from Him? Is it because they don't want to be held accountable for their actions?  Is saying you don't believe in God an excuse for bad behavior? Even if you don't believe in Him, He does believe in you.

Todays Psalm (139:1-3, 7-8, 9-10, 13-14ab) manifests the Lord's love for His children:

R. (24b) Guide me, Lord, along the everlasting way.
O LORD, you have probed me and you know me;
you know when I sit and when I stand;
you understand my thoughts from afar.
My journeys and my rest you scrutinize,
with all my ways you are familiar.
R. Guide me, Lord, along the everlasting way.
Where can I go from your spirit?
From your presence where can I flee?
If I go up to the heavens, you are there;
if I sink to the nether world, you are present there.
R. Guide me, Lord, along the everlasting way.
If I take the wings of the dawn,
if I settle at the farthest limits of the sea,
Even there your hand shall guide me,
and your right hand hold me fast.
R. Guide me, Lord, along the everlasting way.
Truly you have formed my inmost being;
you knit me in my mother's womb.
I give you thanks that I am fearfully, wonderfully made;
wonderful are your works.
R. Guide me, Lord, along the everlasting way.

In Anne a lay apostle's book Climbing the Mountain, the answer is simple. Ask God for guidance and He will give it:

"Consider a mountain. On that mountain is a path that has been marked out carefully for each of us by Jesus. Jesus is at the top. The world is at the bottom. If we get on that path and begin to climb, we will reach Jesus. We climb the mountain through our daily “yes” to Jesus. People say that they do not know the will of God, but God will not hide His will. We must spend time in silence and ask Jesus and He will tell us where our path lies on this mountain of holiness. Most of us need look no further than to our vocations. Our path is usually marked out with the daily duties of these vocations and it is always best to begin at that point. In this time of transition, Jesus needs souls to find their path and start climbing. The higher we climb, the more grace and light Jesus flows through us into this world and the greater the number of souls saved. We praise God for the way He allows us to participate in this renewal. Some speak of darkness and sin and the disobedience of many of our brothers and sisters. This darkness exists and we cannot ignore it. To do so would be to rest in denial. However, when souls talk more about these things than about the glory of Jesus Christ, it is clear that they are facing the wrong way on the mountain. Face up, dear friends! Face Christ! Face heaven! If you do, you will be filled with heaven’s joy and confidence. If you face down toward the world you will become afraid."

Lay apostles, begin today by accepting God's Will for you.  Maybe you have a problem with explicit language.  Eliminate it the best you can every day knowing God hears all.  Maybe you have a problem with spreading rumors and lies. Stop doing so as God sees all. Today, slow down and come out of hiding.

Thank you, Lord, for slowing me down to be accountable for my actions and words. I know you know what I think, say and do. Forgive me when I speed up once in a while!

God bless,

Bonnie

Changing Minds With Knowledge

(Gospel quote from 04Oct2012)

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 them all wrong. She looked at the teacher and said, "my mom helped me." The teacher quickly suggested a tutor! Anyway, Jay is trying to get me interested. Showed me a funny political cartoon. Ok, funny, now back to writing.  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 have 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.

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 todays 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

Special Post: UNATION

For those who read my blog and see the UNATION logo at the right, get ready for social media to change drastically!  

From the UNATION website:

"Every moment of your life is an event, and each event presents you with a unique opportunity to connect with the world in a meaningful and relevant way. UNATION offers you a chance to bring those connections to life. What is UNATION? It’s your favorite TV show. It’s your fantasy football addiction.  It’s your small business. It’s your company’s brand. It’s any and every part of your life that you want it to be. UNATION is everything that makes you U.

Our goal is to bring you a social network that allows you to easily create, plan, and share events, host events, and enjoy events with anyone you choose, and rather than having the memories get lost amidst the paint splatter of a constant stream of likes and media, the events of your life will always be front and center. Now you have the ability to talk, connect, share, experience and re-experience these important moments over-and-over again."

As a pre-launch anchor, I have been given 100 invitations for people to explore this exciting new way to connect with the world!  I have a few invites left, so if you want to be a part of something about to go viral, email me at blshoemakerfl@yahoo.com.  

UNATION

It's where you live!

God bless,

Bonnie

All Eyes On Christ

(Note: Gospel is from 03Oct2012)

You have to be willing to give it all up, including your own life.  Following Christ means total abandonment from worldly possessions . . . disconnecting from earthly pleasures and comfort. I'm not suggesting giving up your home, car, or job. Nor am I suggesting martyrdom.  Free yourself from attachment to "things," even from people. Sometimes life doesn't go the way you anticipated.  Couples get divorced.  Parents die. Children move away. Jobs are lost. Houses go into foreclosure. When we put too much emphasis on the importance of these circumstances . . . things, life can erupt and throw you into a tailspin. But if we are focused on Jesus, we begin to understand things happen in life.  And, we learn to trust He is in control. This, in turn, creates calm and peace within. Follow Him. Do His Will. Then let Him take care of everything else.


Todays Gospel (Luke 9:57-62) shows how important it is to let go and follow Christ:

As Jesus and his disciples were proceeding on their journey, someone said to him, "I will follow you wherever you go." Jesus answered him, "Foxes have dens and birds of the sky have nests, but the Son of Man has nowhere to rest his head." And to another he said, "Follow me." But he replied, "Lord, let me go first and bury my father." But he answered him, "Let the dead bury their dead. But you, go and proclaim the Kingdom of God." And another said, "I will follow you, Lord, but first let me say farewell to my family at home." Jesus answered him, "No one who sets a hand to the plow and looks to what was left behind is fit for the Kingdom of God."

In Heaven Speaks to Young Adults, Jesus explains the simplicity of following Him:

"Dear soul, it is only through unity with Me that you will have true peace. The world offers you darkness of spirit. Look closely at those who follow the world. Do they have peace? Are they loved? Do they sit calmly with others and allow others to speak, understanding that each soul is precious? You will find, I am sure, that those following the world are cynical. This suits them because if they are cynical they can justify their selfishness. Reject this. Reject cynicism. There are many Christians in your world and these followers of Mine are not cynical. They are warm and loving and kind. And this is what I want for you. So I love you and you love others. It is very simple."

Lay apostles, what keeps you focused on the world and not heaven?  Money? Ego? A failed marriage? What can you do today, despite the hectic pace of the world, to detach from earthly comforts?  I am trying to listen more, love more, and most importantly, keep my eyes on Jesus and His Will.

Thank you, Lord, for all the blessings my slow detachment from "things" has brought.  I know I still struggle, but it is becoming easier by the day.

God bless,
Bonnie

Take Your Guardian Angel to Church

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, and saved 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.  

May not be the exact spot I rolled, but 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, there was a place to pull off the side of the road to sightsee where my car landed.  I ended up with a broken nose, but thank the Lord everyone else was ok. I can imagine my Guardian Angel petitioning very quickly to move a mountain . . . 


Todays 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 we read the following 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 working on listening to the warnings instead of debating them! 

God bless,
Bonnie

Weakness Into Strength

(Note: one day behind!  Scripture reading is from yesterday 01Oct2012)

Living life as a lay apostle is hard work some days, a piece of cake others. But I know I have come A LONG WAY over the last 6 years. Before becoming involved in this apostolate, I was a mediocre Catholic.  By that I mean I really didn't have the desire to learn above and beyond what I heard in Mass on Sundays or learned in parochial school. Daily Mass was something I knew about, but never attended. Saw Rosaries around my house growing up but never knew its significance. So many missed opportunities. After consuming all the messages from heaven and thought-provoking words from Anne throughout her books, a metamorphosis occurred.  I wanted to live my life in full obedience to the Catholic Church.  It meant living my life by guidelines set up by Christ Himself. Not an easy task for this sinner. The point is, I wanted to clean up my messy past, live for Him and in unity with Him. It took me a while to trust He was in control. Once I did, I knew I never wanted to disappoint Him again. Temptation to take the easy way out is always dangled in front of our faces. Evil knows our weaknesses . . . what we love and cherish . . . and takes every opportunity to distort our reality to the point we begin to question why God would allow such hardships or disasters to occur. Truly, it is not God who creates misery. It's our own human weaknesses.

The first reading (Job 1:6-22) makes it clear where calamities originate and the only remedy is complete service to God: 

One day, when the angels of God came to present themselves before the LORD, Satan also came among them. And the LORD said to Satan, "Whence do you come?" Then Satan answered the LORD and said, "From roaming the earth and patrolling it." And the LORD said to Satan, "Have you noticed my servant Job, and that there is no one on earth like him, blameless and upright, fearing God and avoiding evil?" But Satan answered the LORD and said, "Is it for nothing that Job is God-fearing? Have you not surrounded him and his family and all that he has with your protection? You have blessed the work of his hands, and his livestock are spread over the land. But now put forth your hand and touch anything that he has, and surely he will blaspheme you to your face." And the LORD said to Satan, "Behold, all that he has is in your power; only do not lay a hand upon his person." So Satan went forth from the presence of the LORD.

And so one day, while his sons and his daughters were eating and drinking wine in the house of their eldest brother, a messenger came to Job and said, "The oxen were ploughing and the asses grazing beside them, and the Sabeans carried them off in a raid. They put the herdsmen to the sword, and I alone have escaped to tell you." While he was yet speaking, another came and said, "Lightning has fallen from heaven and struck the sheep and their shepherds and consumed them; and I alone have escaped to tell you." While he was yet speaking, another messenger came and said, "The Chaldeans formed three columns, seized the camels, carried them off, and put those tending them to the sword, and I alone have escaped to tell you." While he was yet speaking, another came and said, "Your sons and daughters were eating and drinking wine in the house of their eldest brother, when suddenly a great wind came across the desert and smote the four corners of the house. It fell upon the young people and they are dead; and I alone have escaped to tell you." Then Job began to tear his cloak and cut off his hair. He cast himself prostrate upon the ground, and said, "Naked I came forth from my mother's womb, and naked shall I go back again. The LORD gave and the LORD has taken away; blessed be the name of the LORD!" In all this Job did not sin, nor did he say anything disrespectful of God.

In the October 1, 2005 Monthly Message, Jesus refocuses our attention on strength gained when serving Him:

"I have willed a time of great joy for My beloved apostles. Joy is something that the world wishes to take from God’s children, but joy is available nonetheless. The world encourages souls to concentrate on comfort and earthly possessions. I ask you to concentrate on service. This is a marked contrast, is it not? Let me explain why concentrating on service brings you joy. If you rise each day and pledge allegiance to God, you will begin that day with more thought of serving than being served. In this way, you look at your day as an opportunity to work for heaven and to work for heaven’s children, your brothers and sisters. This perspective sends you into the day as a servant. When the day presents you with the inevitable opportunities to assist or console, or simply to be tolerant of your brothers or sisters, you do not view this as a burden, or an interruption in your entertainment and comfort, but as a request made to you directly from the Throne of your God. And fulfilling a request made to you by your God brings you joy. You serve heaven and we fulfill our part of the agreement by sending you joy. If all of God’s children were living this way, there would be great joy on earth and through this joy would come peace. But if even one of God’s children makes the commitment to serve as a beloved apostle, there is an increase of joy and an increase in peace. This is because an apostle does not become angry when he or she is inconvenienced. That apostle responds in calm trust when the world presents them with difficulty or even pain. There is no striking out at others. There is no rebelliousness. There is peace. The world is changing and it is changing one soul at a time. Join Me now and make a commitment to peace in your world. I will send it through you, My beloved apostles."

Lay apostles, remember . . . evil is prowling around the earth in full force waiting for a small opportunity to pounce on our weaknesses. Every one of us is subject to its misery and deception. What can you do today to turn your weaknesses into strengths? Are you a compassionate person?  Try giving yourself a little compassion for once. Are you an emotional overeater? Pray through one craving today. Are you judgmental of those less fortunate standing by the highways with signs asking for money? Give a little today. Love and serve each other this day, today. Maybe tomorrow, what you thought were weaknesses, are really strengths waiting to break free.

Thank you, Lord, for the beautiful example in Your servant Job.  Continue to show me how to turn my weaknesses into strength . . . I know I have a lot of work to do!

God bless,

Bonnie

Describing Jesus

Day 3 of 40 Days for Life devotional: http://40daysforlife.com/docs/fall2012day03print.pdf

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 todays 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 market place, 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.

I want to leave you with my new favorite Christian song (I just discovered recently!) by Steven Curtis Chapman:



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

God bless,
Bonnie

Confusion is Nothing New

Here is a link to the devotional prayer for Day 2 of the 40 Days for Life: http://40daysforlife.com/docs/fall2012day02print.pdf
Love and respect. Kindness and compassion. Faith, hope and charity. Words every person, let alone every Christian, should exude.  But I think some people are becoming confused.  Please tell me when berating and derogatory comments became acceptable human behavior when praying for the unborn. Yesterday as we peacefully prayed the Rosary outside the Planned Parenthood facility, most reactions from drivers passing by were positive.  But evil always lurks around the corner . . . one young man in an old beat up car circled four or five times around the median with his hand extended out the driver's window flipping us the "bird."  Then toward the end of the Rosary, some young girls drove by honking with a sign in their window saying "Up Yours . . .  (not sure what the rest of the sign said)." What kind of examples are being set for todays youth?  Is this the influence of their parents?  Their friends?  What is so confusing about good over evil? With so much noise going on in the world, take time to pray for our youth.
Todays 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 cause you to doubt God. When someone speaks cruelly or acts secretive, rely on your holy instincts as Our Lady states above.  Don't react, pray for the offender.  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 

40 Days For Life

This morning I attended Mass with my good friends Karen, Stan and their daughter Jenna to kick off the 40 Days For Life campaign.  Hard to believe the election is so close.  It's time for all Christians to get involved.  Here is a link to explain activities in your local diocese and around the country: http://www.40daysforlife.com/.  There are also devotionals and prayers available if you are not able to attend activities.  This is important for our children, grandchildren and all future generations.  Stand up for life.  Have a voice.  Choose your political candidates wisely . . .

In todays Gospel (Luke 9:1-6), Jesus requires us to proclaim the Good News . . . and choosing life is a priority in our times:

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.

And, in Volume One, Jesus calls us to action for the defenseless unborn:

"The modern world tries to persuade you to think that life is complex. Most issues are simple. For example, abortion is murder, dear ones. Do not be fooled. Children are your treasure, regardless of when your heavenly Father decides to send them. That issue is not complex and I need My children to be courageous in defending the lives of the unborn children of God. Your generation is suffering untold calamities because of this grave, grave sin. Be alert, My children, and I will instruct you in your role. But truly I say to you, all of heaven cries out against this crime. How long can your God remain silent in the face of these pleas? I am with you. I love you. I will remain with you in a special way, and anything you are asked to do for Me will be accompanied by such graces that it will be easy to accomplish. But you must remain close to Me. It is only when you drift off and close your ears to Me that your life becomes complex again. Be happy, dear ones. All of heaven stands ready to assist you."

Lay apostles, unite with your brothers and sisters in prayer to end abortion.  Participate in the 40 Days For Life activities.  Choose your political candidates on who Christ would choose . . . I know He would steer clear of anyone promoting the killing of such a defenseless population.  Please, now more than ever, be a Christian and help turn this beautiful country toward God again.  

Thank you, Lord, for praying the Rosary today with so many loving, kind people standing up for life.  And, I pray every Christian takes a look at what is happening to this country, seriously considering what is the best choice in favor of our dear, sweet Jesus.

God bless,

Bonnie

Here are pics from today's walk:

Just In The Nick of Time

Young adult testimonies are starting to come in for my new book and I am humbled.  I can't tell you how happy it makes me when young people read the Volumes or any one of Anne a lay apostle's books. All eyes are opened to His great love and mercy with each heavenly message and Anne's eloquent writing. I tell my three daughters how much farther ahead of the game they are compared to me at their ages (29, 26, 23).  I was trying to figure out life while doing my best as a young mother. Thank the Lord they turned out so amazingly wonderful. Not only do they have Jesus, Our Lady, the Bible and all of heaven to guide them in this crazy world, they have Direction for Our Times!  Because of this mission, I see three young Christian women who want to make a difference and bring the Light of Christ to those within their reach.  Two of them are now first time mothers with very supportive husbands whom I love.  It is such a blessing to see them with their sons thankful for their gift from heaven. My youngest is a photographer in a very secular world where she is not afraid to say she loves Jesus. I share all the judgmental and condemning comments I receive in response to my book and blog posts (which are few and far between). I want them to learn how to love and not hate. How to accept, not reject. And, that it is never too late to turn to Christ for salvation. Their foundation is pretty solid.  I did the best I could to secure strong faith.  Now, as a mother and grandmother, I can enjoy the fruits knowing they don't really need me as much anymore . . . they strive to live for His Glory every day the best they can.  And, if they make mistakes along the way, they know I will always be here with open arms to guide them back to Christ (and make a batch of my yummy spongy low fat chocolate chip cookies which nobody seems to love as much as we do!). I love you girls!

In todays 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."

And I couldn't pass up posting the first reading today (Proverbs 21: 1-6, 10-13) as it is filled with spiritual tidbits:

Like a stream is the king's heart in the hand of the LORD; wherever it pleases him, he directs it.

All the ways of a man may be right in his own eyes, but it is the LORD who proves hearts.

To do what is right and just is more acceptable to the LORD than sacrifice.

Haughty eyes and a proud heart? the tillage of the wicked is sin.

The plans of the diligent are sure of profit, but all rash haste leads certainly to poverty.

Whoever makes a fortune by a lying tongue is chasing a bubble over deadly snares.

The soul of the wicked man desires evil; his neighbor finds no pity in his eyes.

When the arrogant man is punished, the simple are the wiser; when the wise man is instructed, he gains knowledge.

The just man appraises the house of the wicked: there is one who brings down the wicked to ruin.

He who shuts his ear to the cry of the poor will himself also call and not be heard.

In the March 2012 Monthly Message, Jesus only asks we persevere with steadfast faith:

"It will always be a heavenly directed plan which brings individuals back to peace through holiness. Together, we are accomplishing this, person by person. I am pleased that our efforts are securing fruit, which we offer to the Father as evidence of a true desire for holiness in His children. Please, dear apostles, remain faithful to Me. Allow Me to direct your contribution and you will be blessed and consoled. Through your fidelity, others will also be blessed and consoled. When we are finished with your work on earth, you will come to Me in fullness and you will understand all that I accomplished through your willingness. I will not steer you into what is bad for you but into what is good for you. Continue on in trust and be grateful that I have chosen you to serve God's Renewal."

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 perfectly.

God bless,
Bonnie