God is POURING out His Grace over this earth!!!

August 5th is Our Lady's birthday. This information was given us by the seers of Medjugorje and even though we celebrate Her birthday September 8 in the Church, I celebrate it twice. This August 5th seemed very special somehow as it was First Friday as well as The Dedication of the Basilica of Saint Mary Major in Rome, of which my neighboring parish, where I often attend weekday mass, has a Spiritual Bond. An official Spiritual Bond that is! Granted to them a couple years ago. Anywho.......after friday's mass a few of us stayed to recite the rosary together. I shared with one of the ladies about it being Our Lady's birthday and she was so happy to know that this beautiful joy took over her entire face and she announced that the rosary would be offered up entirely for Our Lady's intentions as our gift to Her. During the 4th Sorrowful Mystery, while looking at the Risen Crucifix above the Altar I asked Jesus a question: "Lord, what are you giving Our Mother for Her birthday?" At once, I felt His gaze, full of love and so very focused. I felt Him looking at the four of us, sitting there praying. He imparted this knowledge to me, (the answer to my question of what He was giving Our Mother on Her birthday), His reply: "you!". I could not stop my tears from flowing and my heart silently sung to the top of it's lungs "Lord I love you!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!" Oh! What an amazing blessing!!!!!!! After the rosary was completed I told the one lady who had shown so much love for Our Lady earlier and she was elated. She said she tried her best. I understood as this woman stays and prays the rosary almost every single day after mass. As for Our Lord's answer? of course, yes! He gives His Mother, Her children. Us! Without Jesus, She could not have them. Amazing! Amazing Grace! Here is the message Our Lady gave in Medjugorje August 5, 2011: "Praised be Jesus, My dear children" "Dear children, also today, in this great joy, when I see you in such a large number, I desire to call you, and to call all the youth, to participate in the evangelization today of the world; to participate in the evangelization of families. Dear children, pray, pray, pray, and the Mother prays together with you and intercedes before Her Son. Pray dear children. Thank you, dear children, also today, for having responded to My call." "Go in peace, My dear children." They said Our Lady appeared really very, very, very joyful and happy! Open the eyes to our hearts Lord!!! Peace be with you ♥

Teacher!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Today is the feast day of St. Mary Magdalene. I love this saint very much as she taught me how to accept forgiveness. I hope when I die and go to Jesus, as soon as I see Him, I'll say, "Teacher!" The following is taken from the Poem of the Man God, Vol. 2, page 579. Mary Magdalene is speaking with Our Lady........ "....Do you know Mother? I have done what You told me. Every night I seclude myself for a more or less a long time to restore within me the calm, which many things upset. And I feel much stronger afterwards." Our Lady responds, "At present you feel strong, later you will feel happy. Believe Me, Mary, both in peace and in struggle, in joy and in sorrow our spirit needs to dive into the ocean of meditation to rebuild what the world and events demolish and to achieve fresh strength to climb higher and higher." I hope you find a quiet place today to pray from your heart. Never feel you cannot cry out to God. Peace!

Firm Faith

This morning I was reading my e-mail and came across a message from a site I visit often; mej.com. Sometimes, the things said on this site scare me, shake my trust, etc. Then, I have to pray through all my fear and grope my way back to the peace of Jesus. It's not the fault of the website I mentioned, it's MY fear. When I read or hear talk about disaster pending or severe punishment from God because we are all so terribly sinful, or when they talk about financial collapse and how we are all so vulnerable, I find myself literally shaking. Please understand I am not being critical of this website. I'm not being critical in any respect. I'm trying to understand my own fear because I have made the worse mistakes of life when I reacted out of fear. It's a red flag for me to STOP and run to Jesus and Mary to seek truth. Truth about why I am fearful. Mostly I think it is because I lack trust in my Savior and it pains me to admit that. Also, it's my history. If you have experienced severe calamity as I have, the sounds of distant rumble causes a knee jerk reaction to believe this engulfing fear is real and is right here, right now. At the very first inkling of fear, I freeze, my heart pounds and my mind stops working. When my mind starts up again it is engulfed in darkness. I search for light. I find that I usually cry out to Our Lady, who ALWAYS comes to my rescue. Usually the first light of help are the words, "Wait upon the Lord". Okay, I can wait. I may be nauseated with fear, but I can wait. In searching for a word of hope, I came across a message of Our Lady dated May 2, 2007. She said to give Her our hearts and to do so with complete trust and without fear. She said that then we would see the world with different eyes. We would see our neighbor. His pain and suffering and we would not turn our heads from those who suffer because Her Son turns His Head from those who do so. I know this all takes time to sink in, unless of course, God chooses otherwise. Most of the time, it takes awhile for our brains to comprehend what our hearts yearn for; God. The dark lies, the horrific visions and thoughts that enter my mind when fear attacks are crippling. As I understand from other spiritual readings, this is when Jesus is closest to us. Even if the world economy collapses and everything we worked for (savings, retirement, housing, etc.) is lost in an instant..........okay, so if it is? then what? We actually think we know what will happen after that? What if because of that dreadful scenario those who you love so much would find God? What if, because of the disaster, your country would rise with each person coming out of this rubble with a heart of gold, filled with love? And I mean, true Godly love! Actually, the future predicted by Our Lady of Medjugore is the world returns to God. Our children will grow up in a time of peace. What is needed is trust. Yes, I know and agree, that is what is needed. It's just that, my body tries to tell me there is no hope and to prepare to die. That is a tough message to ignore, especially when it comes from my own brain and trembling hands. I think about how I would feel if my daughter was frightened and I knew what she was so scared about was not only untrue but destroying her faith, I would try my best to assure her. Being a mother has helped me understand so much about God being our Father, Jesus being our Savior and Our Lady being our Mom. I relate by focusing on how I would not give my daughter a stone if she asked me for bread. That helps me get back on the truth track. (breathing helps too)!

Our most powerful weapon is prayer.....

Prayer to the Blessed Virgin, (never known to fail.) O most Beautiful Flower of Mt. Carmel, Fruitful, Vine Splendor of Heaven Blessed Mother of the Son of God. Immaculate Virgin, assist me in my necessity. Oh Star of the Sea, help me and show me herein You are my Mother. Oh Holy Mary, Mother of God, Queen of Heaven and Earth, I humbly beseech You from the bottom of my heart to succor me in my necessity (make your request.) There are none that can withstand Your power. O Mary, conceived without sin, pray for us who have recourse to Thee (3 times). Holy Mary, I place this cause in your hands (3 times). Amen. Say this prayer for three consecutive days. You must publish, and it will be granted to you.

Look who's back!

Let's see, there was a wedding, a few holidays, lots of birthdays and days spent in much needed solitude. That's where I've been. I'm sorely behind on my blog and am trying to put things back into working order. With that said and with the topic of this winter's weather being left unsaid, it is time to take notes again. Lent is soon approaching and it is a time of learning many things. Each Lent that I have entered into with my heart, I find myself at Easter with renewed peace. I'm looking forward to Lent, I need it so much! I've also been using my snowstorm time indoors making things. I'm excited about my new creation, "Maxine". I love making dolls. They are created as you go along and it's amazing how you start to realize this certain personality developing. I taught myself how to work with clay and make these dolls and I'm so glad I did! You know those little scraps of fabric that JoAnn Fabrics give out, they are located in a clear plastic pocket right next to the roll of fabric? I love fabric/fiber and I can't resist taking a few just to study the colors, etc. and try to make something from it. In the evenings when my husband is watching the dreaded outdoor channel, I lose myself in whatever art project I've got. I like to be close by him in the evenings as he is gone all day. But, oh!!!!! that outdoor channel is torture. I can lose myself in my craft, I think that is a priceless gift and very helpful to survival! Here's the message of 1/25/2011 from Our Lady of Medjugorje: "Dear Children, Also today I am with you and I am looking at you and blessing you, and I am not losing hope that this world will change for the good and that peace will reign in the hearts of men. Joy will begin to reign in the hearts of men. Joy will begin to reign in the world because you have opened yourselves to My call and to God's love. The Holy Spirit is changing a multitude of these who have said, "yes". Therefore, I desire to say to you; Thank you for having responded to my call" When I read this my heart jumped for joy!!!!!!!! God bless you♥

There's so much to read. Too much to absorb and retain , at least in my capability. Like putting hands over the ears, I find myself trying to block out the senseless noise of chit-chat and advertising that seems to plaque this internet. It's exhausting to determine which is truth and which is not truth in the media's offerings. But from God, one word says it all and quiets the soul giving peace and assurance. Here is the latest message of Our Lady of Medjugorje, dated October 2nd, 2010: "Dear Children, Today I call you to a humble, my children, humble devotion. Your hearts need to be just. May your crosses be your means in the battle against the sins of the present time. May your weapon be patience and boundless love, a love that knows to wait and which will make you capable of recognizing God's signs- that your life, by humble love, may show the truth to all those who seek it in the darkness of lies. My children, my apostles, help me to open the paths to my Son. Once again, I call you to pray for your shepherds. Alongside them, I will triumph. Thank You." What are the crosses you carry that help you to battle against the sins of the present time? Personally, I'm not sure yet, I've got to think and pray on this for a bit. It seems to be very important to know all about your weapons that you use in battle. Perhaps it is bearing with pain patiently and with humility. Perhaps it is something far more simple than we would think. I know from my own experience, if you ask God to show you the truth He will. Sometimes I've had to search very hard for the truth in a given situation and in the lengthy search I've learned about other issues that I had not considered. I am learning why Jesus is called "Teacher"...............................how beautiful!

Choosing paths

On August 2, 2010, Our Lady of Medjugorje left this message for all of us:

"Today I call you, together with me, to begin to build the Kingdom of Heaven in your hearts; that you may forget what is personal and-led by the example of my Son-think of what is of God. What does He desire of you? Do not permit satan to open paths of earthly happiness, the paths without my Son. My children, they are false and last a short while. My Son exists. I offer you eternal happiness and peace and unity with my Son. With God; I offer you the Kingdom of God.

Thank you"

From experience, I can attest that choosing the wrong path can lead you to destruction. I went through a period of time where I thought my happiness was most important. True, my happiness is important, but I discovered that God is the Author of happiness. So why did I try to find peace and happiness in worldly things?

Geez, ever watch television? That alone can practically warp you beyond repair.

Getting older can put a person in a tailspin and you fall for the false hopes to hold on to your youthful looks and strength. What a waste of time!!! Striving for that which looks good in the commercials? oy vey! But, zillions of us fall for it.

That's fixable though. There really is more to life than health insurance issues, or any other worry we are CONSTANTLY encouraged to fixate on. No wonder folks try to escape reality, those pesky arrows that fly at us. And, there are those that count on us to fall. There are those who rejoice when we fall.

Plenty of things to feel mad/sad/angry at.

I'm not sure who it was that said this, but somebody said that we can use every experience as a spiritual lesson. We can search for God. And, if we can't meet Him halfway, He'll meet us most of the way, but......we have to at least look.

I found that just entertaining the idea that maybe, just maybe some of this religious stuff is real. It could be true. Maybe it would be okay to think the Bible is truth and the ad for whitening our teeth is useless?

Maybe everything really does matter.

Or, if we are all so smart, then why are we destroying each other?

Once you allow yourself to ponder that which is of God, you'll eventually figure it out; you and God, will meet.