Blessings of Morning Routine

Morning routine:

Wake up before the sun, take the dog out to potty, take the dog back in to feed.

While she is eating, go outside and fill bird feeders, then turn off lights in garden, then feed

the horse and sheep.

Somewhere in between I get my husband breakfast and see him off to work.

I am blessed to have such a routine, each morning being greeted with the sweetness only our beloved pets can give.

There are many in this world who need to be greeted with love and kindness. Seemingly, a small act on our part, but a huge impact on the receiver. I read recently that our life here is about mercy, then afterwards, it's about justice.

Doing little things with great love, as Mother Theresa said, or was it St. Therese of the Little Flower?, anyway,

doing small things with great love, especially in secret, creates a door for God to enter. For example, if you are disgruntled at a co-worker, do something good for them, and don't let them know it was you. Even if it is taking time out to say a prayer for them. We all need grace and it is available to those with an open heart. Having mercy on someone else, is a priviledge and grace! do not let it pass you by.

And also very important, enjoy your morning coffee:)

Path Makers

My husband's latest creation: rope swing for me! Wherever my husband and I have lived, we always managed to etch out a special spot or two on our land on which to sit. Like mini parking spots for rest and reflection. My husband loves to clear debris to make a path to a place to sit. He moves rocks from here to there, then back to here, then to there again. He lovingly creates these areas of respite and enjoys sharing a "time out" with his favorite person on earth: me. I feel so honored when he happily sounds the trumpet that the throne is ready and we go outdoors together to experience the new perch. We talk about how we love it, how nice it is and I remark about the hard work he did, he says it wasn't that hard and eventually, silence comes over us. We sit in quiet friendship and just watch nature until one of us says something: "Hey, how does a cup of coffee sound?" or my favorite, "have I told you lately how much I love you?"

He also has created several tree stands from which he hunts, and I imagine, does his best praying.

We pray to connect to God, each other and ourselves. In praying I give God a chance to help me. Our Lady says to, "pray, pray, pray".

I know, sometimes to concentrate on prayer seems almost impossible especially when you've so many things you need to do. It may seem like just one more thing to add to your to-do list (s). Prayer isn't on your to-do list, no more than breathing or blinking is. Prayer is what enables you to write a proper to-do list.

Here is Our Lady's message for 11-25-09:

"Dear Children! In this time of grace I call you all to renew prayer in your families. Prepare yourselves with joy for the coming of Jesus. Little Children, may your hearts be pure and pleasing, so that love and warmth may flow through you into every heart that is far from this His love. Little Children, be my extended hands, hands of love for all those who have become lost, who have no more faith and hope. Thank you for having responded to my call".

If I could tell you all the terrible experiences my husband and I have endured, you would be amazed that we are still together as man and wife after all these years. Heck, that we are still alive for that matter. What does it take? It takes LOVE and every sub-category under LOVE. Forgiveness, compassion, humility, selflessness, understanding, prayer, peace.........all of it. Judging each other is so useless, unless you want to lose opportunities to learn and grow in happiness.

Remember to keep your own sins in view. Remember the mercy you have received. Take part in God's miracles by offering forgiveness instead of evil. Open the door for God into whatever situation you find yourself by that key you yourself have been given; forgiveness. Be God's Hands and create a place for someone who has become tired and lost and you will find rest.

Need Help?

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).

Pray this prayer for three consecutive days. Then, you must publish, and it will be granted to you.

This prayer works wonders! Say it with love and from the heart.

Never Settle for Less!

When we become a friend of Jesus, we become of Jesus. I was reading in the Poem of the Man God about how Mary Magdalene's conversion caused many to scorn and laugh at her.

They thought she was the best thing since sliced bread when she was on their side. But now, she became a new sort of controversy and very few who used to be so enamored with her, now detested her and wanted her to fail.

Isn't that the way it goes?! Many people just wait for a Christian to fall so they can feel better about their own sins.

Oy! Another trick of the evil one!

We must be cautious not to allow this scornful attitude to come and dwell in our hearts in any shape or form.

Love.

Our Lady has said that this world does not know how to love.

(When I first read that I was puzzled, because I loved lots of people.)

Ah, it goes much deeper than that. And I for one, do not want to rob myself of knowing how to love as God intends. I do not want to settle for second best in any area of my journey with God, and so therefore, nor with you. I'm searching my heart daily for anything that may block my view of the beauty God is showing me in all people.

In the Poem of the Man God (what a book!), Jesus says:

" Improve your love, then. Love, to be really such, must not be exclusive. When one can love only one object, and cannot love anything else, even if one is loved by what one loves, it is clear that that is not true love. Perfect love loves, with due gradation, all mankind and also animals and vegetables, stars and water, because it sees everything in God. One loves God, as is proper, and one loves everything in God. Be careful; exclusive love is often selfishness. Endeavor therefore to love everybody else out of love."

He had said this to Judas the Iscariot who had complained that Mary Magdalene was an embarrassment and should not be allowed to walk with the disciples.

Jesus also said that Mary Magdalene was no longer Mary of Magdala, she was Mary of Jesus, and that her separation from the past was complete.

Know anyone who is trying to be good? Encourage them.

In your heart, be a mother or father to children you do not know. Be a sister or a brother to strangers.

Most likely, you won't have to say a word. Just love them in silence because what is in your heart, the world sees.

Thoughts from the Hayloft

I love it when I get an inspirational idea. Ever since we changed to round bales of hay, instead of the rectangular, the hayloft is empty, (round bales too heavy and are kept on main floor). After I was finished feeding Nancy and Betty this morning I noticed the hayloft door was open and decided to climb the ladder to see what was up there.

Not much.

Then I thought, "hey!!! I could dry my herbs up here instead of in the house where everyone complains about it!"

So, I started in sweeping, sweeping, sweeping.

Put in some hooks, nails and such to hang herbs on and used an old wooden desk to work on. I'm going to make some floral wreaths, too.

I've got enough Sweet Annie to supply the township. I just love that stuff! But, my family thinks it awful and were thrilled that I had discovered a space, unclaimed for the most part, to work with my dried herbs.

There is the back door to consider. A doozy of a step should I forget and fall out! And the front door isn't much better.

Still, it does one a world of good to create.

Somebody asked me the other day why I like to paint pictures of furniture.

Maybe it's because I love the idea of decorating but never had the money or energy to spend. Also, I think I enjoy creating order and the fun of how paintings take control and guide you along in accordance to how they want to come alive.

It's just fun and is good for the soul to create.

Everything is a lesson. What you learn can be applied to living a life with God and in peace.

One needs to be teachable. It's almost always best to take the student position in situations. For example an argument that you think is unjust because you know you are right.

Forget being right, instead: what are you hearing? learning? and how can you bring God into the equation?

Keep your heart open to that which is of God.

If you pray for peace, you have to be careful to do your part.

Sometimes, saying sorry is the key. Forgiving also opens opportunities for God. So open as many doors for God as you can, while you can.

".....and He speaks the truth without breaking anybody's heart, without rousing anybody's indignation and without reproaching. Of course, He is He!" . St. Peter was speaking about Jesus in the Poem of the Man God. The disciples had been trying to testify and witness to the Truth and found that some people were thirsty for God, and others became indignant.

When speaking of these challenges to Jesus, Jesus replies, " And you do not love them. That's your mistake. Love them even if you do not know them. Say to yourself: "They belong to our Father".

You will then seem to know them and you will love them."

This is from the Poem of the Man God, Volume II.

It's great when we speak to another person who is in agreeance with us, but when someone turns up their nose? oy, that's not so easy, but it is a valuable lesson if you can remember to take the student position and learn from it.

We need to love, be ready to love and to give. It takes prayer, lots of prayer to cleanse your mind, wash all the worldly stuff out of it and make room for God. Peace follows. Peace is a treasure in your family, guard it wisely.

Here's a photo of some sort of bug who came to my water fountain for a drink. And, another photo of a sunset I took sometime this summer.

I am amazed each day at what God has prepared to share with us.

Peace

be

with

YOU!

Confessions of being haughty

I saw this guy in the grocery store. He wasn't annoying me or inconveniencing me (as I sometimes feel towards people while grocery shopping).

Yet, I judged him silently in my mind.

By the way, this is a confession, which I share only to bring light to how we hurt ourselves and others without much thought or care.

Shamely, my thought was this; "geez, if he wasn't so fat maybe he would be able to walk".

Horrid, I know.

I am truly sorry for my ignorance.

But how did I know I was entertaining such a terrible thought?

I related him to someone I know (which by the way, is how the Holy Spirit often teaches me). I noticed the back of his neck and for a split second, saw the back of my husband's neck. Then, again for a second, I saw my own husband in a wheelchair in the future without his loving family beside him, fending for himself in a cruel and cold world while stuck in a wheelchair and at the mercy of strangers.

My mind was enlightened, my heart filled with love for this man I do not know and probably will never see again. Maybe he was an angel? But, I learned and saw all within a few seconds a valuable teaching: Judge not!

One reason is because you cheat yourself. I don't want to judge this man. I don't want others to judge my loved ones when they are all alone and vulnerable!!! What I really want to do is sit down, share coffee and have a good conversation, perhaps a few laughs, encourage each other and become friends.

I owed God an apology for my initial attitude towards one of His children. God, used my own failing to teach me, lovingly, how to be aware of my thinking and not let it grow into outward rudeness. Though, I'm sure all of our inner thoughts are plain to see on our faces. We fool no one.

We isolate ourselves with these sort of thoughts. Silently making fun of people who do not look like we think they should look like. Okay, so how should he have looked? Strong, tall and muscular?

Oh come on!!!!!!!!! That image is given to you courtesy of some stupid commercial for Hane's underwear. There must be absolutely countless ways to undermine our purity!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

On the way home that day, I noticed how sad I felt, not just because of this one instance, but because of countless other ways I've dismissed others as less than myself. Oh, so you see? yes, it only makes me feel less of MYSELF.

But, with God all things are possible.

Keep seeking God in all things, and He will help you love.

Otherwise? You will be empty, sad and angry. Just looking for more to make yourself miserable.

Like gloomy rain everyday. Dark houses everywhere.

All inside your heart.

What to do, what to do. What to do? Start. BEGIN! Just pray, "Lord God, help me to love, show me how!!!"

All of us need to learn how to love, and when God does start showing you, even tiny small seconds of enlightenment, your heart will burst for love.

Gratitude fills your entire being, almost too much to contain!! You start to see beauty in everyone and in everything.

You know that guy at church who grates on your nerves? Yes, even he you will see with love and tenderness all the while you learn that being better than everyone else is a burdensome act to keep up.

I confessed this sin and other judemental thoughts and attitudes to the priest. He said, "ah! I just read something about this earlier, what you need to do is when you realize you have this thought, immediately say a Hail Mary for the person whom you are judging".

I thought that was awesome! I can do that!!! Going to confession really gives graces, direction and peace of heart.

I leave you with my heart, full of gratitude for your patience with me as I stumble along, slowly learning but growing in love.

Peace and smiles be within your heart and on your face.

Make a move!

Write this down: Medjugorje

This place, Medjugorje in the former Yugoslavia belongs to Our Mother of the Redeemer. She will prove that She loves us, way before the Church has time to approve these apparitions.

Every knee in the world, IN THE WORLD, will bend in awe of Her love for us. She will leave a sign that no man can touch to prove to all of us, everyone in the world, that She, the Mother of Jesus Christ has come to bring us to holiness, to lead us to Jesus. There will be an enormous world wide revival, all religions that worship Jesus, will experience a new springtime in their hearts. Christians as well as lots of non-Christians. millions will convert.

If you have little children, they will grow up in the era of peace She is bringing to us.

All these years, we've been frightened of what the future may bring. If you are frightened, then you need to pray and ask God to help you understand. You will find love. If you knew how much Our Lady loves you, you would weep tears of joy.

I cry a lot.

When I was a little girl, my mom told me I would run out of tears. As an adult, it did happen to me, her words came true. During the days after my son died, I did run out of tears. It was like dry heaves, only with my eyes.

I must tell you when I fell away from God, I rarely cried or felt my feelings or listened.

I was on my way to becoming a stone.

I was on the wrong path. I had been on the right one, and well, I fell from it. But now I am back on and God has created in me a new being.

I want to run up to strangers and explain about how God is love, He's really real!!!! But it is difficult to find even one person who is open, or looking for Him.

At least go to Mej.com and read some of the info. You have to put forth some effort, you have to exercise your own will.

If you are on the wrong path, if there is any doubt at all, just ask God to help you.

God is the author of Love.

Evil cannot even grow a blade of grass.

Why do we give evil so much attention then?

The following is a message from Our Lady to non-believers, She gives a new message on the 2nd of each month.

July 2, 2009

"Dear children! I am calling you because I need you, I need hearts ready for immeasurable love - hearts that are not burdened by vanity - hearts that are ready to love as my Son loved - that are ready to sacrifice themselves as my Son sacrificed Himself. I need you. In order to come with me, forgive yourselves, forgive others and adore my Son. Adore Him also for those who have not come to know Him, those who do not love Him. Therefore, I need you;therefore, I call you. Thank you."

Peace be with you.