Sleeping on the Job?

So long since I posted. I've been tied up with my family some of which came for the whole summer. Such joy and certainly no time for sleeping on the job of being mom and grandma.

The Lord has continued to teach me what it means to follow Him. Obedience to each moment and a "yes" to all He asks. I feel the call to do away with excess and to stop "having and getting". Times might get rough for all of us but I know He has a plan and it's for our good. The ones who have should help those who are struggling.

My pledge to Him is to try to make my rosaries with care and at as low a price as I can. Silver has risen dramatically. I wish I could afford to give them away, but I just can't.

Let's pray for one another.

All is Well

Last week, I had what felt like an explosion in my well ordered, peaceful life. I had a choice of doing what I knew was right or pleasing someone important to me in order to keep peace. I tried to get my mind around doing the thing that would keep peace between us, but the Lord had another plan. I did the right thing by God's design and, although the person went through a little melt down, it all came right in the end. I wish I didn't have to talk so cryptically but it has to do with spiritual direction and confidentiality. The point is, we worry and fret, but really, all is well. We think we have to fix the problem. But the Lord is with us. Right with us... By our side... Within us... and all is under His control. This morning in my prayer, I opened the Bible to 2 Cor:4:17-18. It says: "Yes, the troubles which are soon over, though they weigh little, train us for the carrying of a weight of eternal glory which is out of all proportion to them. And so we have no eyes for things that are visible, but only for things that are invisible; for visible things last only for a time, and the invisible things are eternal." This tells me that ALL that happens is for our good and when we turn to Jesus (and our Blessed Mother, who so understands), we are building our future home in glory. Our focus needs to be what is happening in the Unseen.

When we leave things in the Lord's hands, He begins to work it all out. I believe this and have seen it over and over again. So why do I worry at all??

Speak Without Fear

We went to the Marian Conference last weekend. So many inspiring stories of people encountering the Lord and His Mother. It was like going to the fountain for a long drink of refreshing water. My spirit was so stirred up. I came away from there with new resolve to speak out without fear. We have to share our experience of the Lord and the fruit of our prayer. So many souls going along their merry way without a thought for God and where they will wind up with their time on earth is over. One time the Lord seemed to say to me: "go and tell what the Lord has done for you". I guess that's the most effective way of sharing faith. Preaching at people sure doesn't do it, now does it?

Nice Surprise

I just heard from an old customer from about 13 years ago. He was just a very young man back then, but now he has a family. His little girl seems to have memories from her time in heaven. Our soul came from God and we will, in a very short time (in the whole scheme of things), will return to Him. How are we spending our time on earth? I have to ask myself if I'm doing enough to further the Kingdom of God. Am I going out to proclaim it? Or am I watching those I love and others rush by without giving a God a glance.

How blessed is that little girl to have a father who recognizes what's happening and can guide her on her path.
I pray the Lord will show me how to serve Him this day.

Something the Blessed Mother taught me....

She showed me why she is called Immaculate. She didn't tell me in words, but just impressions in my mind -- a kind of sure understanding. She's clean inside and out. No spot or blemish. No unkind thought or word. We, on the other hand, might seem very kind and loving to most people, but inside the stray unkind thought happens all too often. We may be striving to be like her, but we haven't quite made it (or as in my case, we are far from her perfection). When asked about those who believe in reincarnation, her response was: "they are mistaken". She didn't put them down or write them off, she just said: "they are mistaken".

How I Met the Blessed Mother

I was on pilgrimage to Belgium and France. We were there for Fr. Damien's beatification. We were in an ancient monastery. It was just a ruin but it felt like a holy place. My group was sitting in the choir of the monastery singing praise songs and then they sang a Mary song. I got up and walked around. I said to the Blessed Mother "I don't know you, Mary. I don't have any mother feelings toward you. I wish I did, but I just don't." It came right from my heart. I felt her there just behind me and to the left side of me. I knew if I turned around I would see her. It felt like the world went away and it was just us. I heard her interiorly say, "You are my adopted daughter and my pupil." I felt her put her cape around me. I felt her touch on my shoulder. Then she was gone.

Later, I was telling the group's spiritual directors what happened. They became very excited and told that the Blessed Mother had put her mantle around me. It seemed more authentic to me when I described her "mantle" as her "cape". I didn't know the 'catholic language' for what happened to me.

When I came home, I remembered what she told me about my being her pupil. So I asked her to teach me who she is. And she began to do exactly that.

More later....

Amazing Times

Are you fighting fear? I'm reminded that "the Lord is my shepherd, I shall not want...", and "anxiety is useless here, what is needed is trust". All is well; the Lord will not let us down and will not disappoint us in our trust.

I was thinking that Bartimaeus' attitude was all about his longing for the Lord's healing touch. He wanted to see! Lord, help me to see you. Increase my spiritual sight.