Hearts Opened and Lessons Learned

April 25, 2012 - Our Lady's Message to Her children: "Dear Children, Also today I am calling you to prayer and may your heart, little children, open towards God as a flower opens towards the warmth of the sun. I am with you and I intercede for all of you. Thank you for having responded to My call." Our Lady has answered my prayer for a couple young people who were on the brink of disaster. She pulled them back from the edge of heartache. I see so much good that has come out of this recent struggle. My faith is stronger and I love more deeply. Praised be Jesus!

Trust, trust, trust, Home, home, home

The older I get, the easier it seems to be content, however, maintaining peace in my heart is tricky, especially when the phone rings and all of a sudden my sweet, peaceful morning spent painting goes kaput. To watch loved ones who are younger and trying hard to make it in their chosen lives, take a hard fall, robs me of my peace. Having to watch someone you desperately love suffer is one of life's most intense emotional pains. How do we survive each others turmoils? No wonder so many suffer alone because we don't want to upset anyone. We become isolated. Like that lone lost sheep Jesus goes after. I try to remember that Jesus is close to the brokenhearted. He hears their cries. This reassures me and I truly believe. However, my body is slow to grasp these words of Truth. I notice this by the fact that I'm not breathing, I can't eat and I feel my entire body slowing down, almost to stone. The Lord has said many times not to fear, but to trust. Okay, He said this so it must be possible not to fear, think the worse, croak under the pressure of exaggerated anxiety. I remember our priest speaking about Our Lady at the foot of the cross, how she must have recalled all the things in the past that God did, so that now, faced with this unspeakable pain, she was able to reassure herself that God is real, He is with her. Maybe she recalled how she became with child in the first place........"yes, that really happened via God", she may have thought. "Yes, my Son will rise again, I believe". Did she instantly feel fabulous? No. It takes time and that reminds me, "Wait, wait upon the Lord." I think back on times when I thought my world was coming to an end only to find out that it was a new beginning, much better than I could have ever imagined. Trust, trust, trust. Stand firm, keep faith! My loved ones belong to God. Period. And, could it be that the rough road they have to travel is the very road necessary for their redemption? I bet it is. Sometimes we have to get out of the way and let God drive. In this one Litany, it says, "Mother of Risk". I understood that when I faced my son's death. When we love someone, they are out there walking around with our heart. A couple weeks ago, I was praying hard for this person and I reminded the Lord that they were walking around with my heart and I understood Him to say, "And Mine." Difficulties pass just as great times pass. We need to keep our eyes fixed on Heaven and accept the trials here below as gifts because how could God let us suffer if it wasn't necessary for our sanctification and to get us to Heaven? I'm a blessed soul, for I totally believe God and His Word. No doubt whatsoever in my mind, heart, body or soul. I completely believe and yet, I have fear issues. I'm praying for the ability to keep my imagination under control and in the realm of facts! Trust, trust, trust. Home, home, home. That's what my dad said when a nurse asked him how his Thanksgiving went. He was in a nursing facility at the time and was able to go home for the holiday. These words have stuck with me these past 12 years. They direct me. Trust God and keep eternity (home) in mind, always.

HUSBANDS, BABIES & LENT

Each year for Lent I try to learn a lesson that is intended for me. I have no idea what it is at first, but usually I get the message from seeing, hearing or reading the same thing here, there and everywhere, until I finally GET IT! Last year's challenge was to speak softly, gently and slowly and not to speak more than necessary. This was wonderful as it gave me a key to become a better listener and allowed silence to become a good companion. I became aware of how much sarcasm there was in my speaking and how much there is in television, etc. This world is a glut of sarcasm and people trying to be funny. This year? it's about relinquishing my private time/space when asked, without hesitation or resentment, but to give it freely as God directs. Let it go! So far, so good. I'm learning that when my private time is interrupted I can answer that call with a loving heart. It doesn't mean I'll say yes to every request, rather, it means to respond in truth which is sometimes a no. Either way, if I'm following God's lead, I have peace and a bit of excitement to share whatever it is He sent my way, with Him. Having a retired husband around all the time and me being a hermit like creature, meant I needed help to respond to this life change with goodness. Point being, ask God for help and be prepared not only to listen for instructions, but see how much better life goes when you are doing what God wants you to do. Also, it keeps one in the present moment. I do get time to paint and the painting seems twice as enjoyable as it used to. I make better use of my time I guess, again, another lesson. This morning as I was praying in front of Our Lady's statue I heard in my heart the word, "believe". Believe in Her messages: forgiveness, conversion, prayer from the heart, firm faith, peace, penance, Holy Mass, message of hope and love. I was encouraged to believe that the messages Our Lady has given us are a definite remedy. To believe is to try to live them in every circumstance. PEACE

Thoughts from the Art Room Window

Snowy days are such a treat if you are lucky enough to be able to stay indoors, in your art room with peace and quiet as your closest companions! With or without snow, this is the first time in weeks/months that I've had a couple hours to call my own. Lots of time and energy go to my number one priority: family. But today, I had some time for painting and made a few still lifes in acrylic, pen and ink, pencil and gold marker. Ah, such fun! I see a color scheme, for example, in an old quilt at an antique store, then I pull some color swatches from my Benjamin and Moore case and try to duplicate them using basic colors in acrylic. Once this is done, I start to work on an interior sketch, put that to canvas or board and then decorate with my color scheme. I love putting together an idea, it's my favorite part of any project whether it be sewing or painting. To see a beautiful sunset then think about how those colors would work in a still life gets my creativity stirring. All this takes time!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! And, it's only a fraction of what is involved. Much of a day could be spent on practicing drawing a chair, or an eye or a shoe. Time is zapped in so many different ways. Even getting my blog updated is a major challenge (I'm not complaining, just whining).l Sadly, sometimes life takes our energy and time because of enduring a loss. I lost my beloved sheep, Betty this past December. I miss her terribly! I had her for 11 years. She was a companion to my horse whom I worry will become depressed. I now spend more time in the barn keeping my horse company and trying to figure out if I should get another sheep for her to mother. Meanwhile, back at the ranch, my wonderful grandson Henry is coming for a visit. I've so much to be grateful for! Speaking of being grateful, here is Our Lady's message of January 2, 2012: "Dear Children, As with motherly concern I look in your hearts, in them I see pain and suffering; I see a wounded past and an incessant search; I see My children who desire to be happy but do not know how. Open yourselves to the father. That is the way to happiness, the way by which I desire to lead you. God the Father never leaves His children alone, especially not in pain and despair. When you comprehend and accept this, you will be happy. Your search will end, you will love and you will not be afraid. Your life will be hope and truth which is My Son. I implore you, pray for those whom my Son has chosen. Do not judge because you will all be judged."

Only a Mom would have this much patience!!

As a matter of importance to every brother and sister, the following is the message Our Mother gave to the world, specifically for non-believers, on October 2, 2011: "Dear Children; Also today my Motherly Heart calls you to prayer, to your personal relationship with God, the Father, to the joy of prayer in Him. God the Father is not far away from you and He is not unknown to you. He revealed Himself to you through My Son and gave you life that is My Son. Therefore, My children, do not give in to temptations that want to separate you from God the Father. Pray! Do not attempt to have families and societies without Him. Pray! Pray that your hearts may be flooded by the goodness which comes only from my Son, Who is sincere goodness. Only hearts filled with the goodness can comprehend and accept God the Father. I will continue to lead you. In a special way, I implore you not to judge your shepherds. My children, are you forgetting that God the Father called them? Pray! Thank you". Afterward, the seer who had never spoken to the crowd before said, " I have never said anything before, but are you aware, that the Mother of God was with us? Each of us should ask himself, 'are you worthy of this?' I am saying this because it is difficult for me to see Her in pain, because each of us is seeking a miracle, but does not want to work a miracle in himself. Peace be with you. more info? see mej.com

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!